Management of White-naped pheasant pigeon Otidiphaps nobilis aruensis at Barcelona Zoo

Abstract

The knowledge gathered from keeping and breeding White-naped pheasant pigeons Otidiphaps nobilis aruensis at Barcelona Zoo over the last 22 years is presented. Housing, diet, breeding and general information about the husbandry of the species are described. In March 1988, five pheasant pigeons [2.2.1 (♂.♀.?)] confiscated by Spanish Authorities arrived at Barcelona Zoo. On 23 August 1992 the first chick hatched and since then 65 chicks have hatched. At the time of writing Barcelona Zoo maintains 17·6 birds. Several birds hatched at the Zoo have been transferred to other European institutions, such as Zoo Krefeld and Weltvogelpark Walsrode in Germany, Bristol Zoo Gardens and Chester Zoo in the UK, Zoobotanico Jerez in Spain, Copenhagen Zoo in Denmark, Jardim Zoologico de Lisboa in Portugal and Vogelpark Avifauna in Alphen in the Netherlands, contributing to the European population, which comprises 26·12·4 birds at nine zoos, plus 3·2 birds at two zoos in the USA. A European studbook was established in 2001 and it has been managed and monitored since then by Weltvogelpark Walsrode. We hope this information will contribute to better management and improved breeding of White-naped pheasant pigeons in European zoos.