Zoo Breeding Program Helps Revive Endangered Pink Pigeons

Pink pigeons bred at Jersey Zoo have been returned to the wild as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the species’ genetic diversity, the zoo has confirmed.

Earlier this year, four of the rare birds were transported to the Gerald Durrell Endemic Wildlife Sanctuary in Mauritius. The journey was overseen by Durrell’s Curator of Birds, Harri Whitford, who accompanied the pigeons, cared for them during transit and helped them settle into quarantine on arrival.

The conservation charity said decades of captive breeding, carefully managed releases and habitat restoration had helped the pink pigeon population recover dramatically — from just 10 birds to an estimated 600 over the past 40 years.

Mr Whitford said the presence of genetically valuable birds in zoos made continued breeding and reintroduction work essential.

“As zoos are now holding pink pigeons with such precious genes, it’s vital that we continue our efforts to breed them and return them to the wild,” he said. “This project is a fantastic example of how zoos can play a crucial role in preventing a species from becoming extinct.”