A Historic Milestone: Bird Species Extinct in the Wild Reintroduced After 36-Year Zoo Recovery Effort
September 10, 2024
September 10, 2024
BROOKFIELD, Illinois, Sept. 10 -- Brookfield Zoo Chicago issued the following news release:
Guam kingfishers (or sihek as the birds are known by the indigenous CHamoru people of Guam) went extinct in the wild due to invasive brown tree snakes introduced to the island during World War II, wiping out many native bird species. A rescue effort was launched in the 1980s to bring 28 sihek (pronounced see-heck) in the care of zoos, including Brookfield Zoo Chicago, with the goal of one day . . .
Guam kingfishers (or sihek as the birds are known by the indigenous CHamoru people of Guam) went extinct in the wild due to invasive brown tree snakes introduced to the island during World War II, wiping out many native bird species. A rescue effort was launched in the 1980s to bring 28 sihek (pronounced see-heck) in the care of zoos, including Brookfield Zoo Chicago, with the goal of one day . . .