These images show live toucans doing well a year after they hatched at a zoo after they were found in a woman’s bra as she attempted to smuggle them through an airport.
Out of eight eggs, six hatched and two passed away when they were young chicks, leaving four of the toucans alive and healthy.
The young toucans are prospering a year after hatching after they were found in a woman’s bra as she attempted to smuggle them through an airport in Foz do Iguacu, in Parana, in Brazil, while claiming they were quail eggs that she planned to eat.
The footage shows the birds developing well after about 80 staff at the Parque des Aves zoo, also in Foz do Iguacu, cared for them when they were just eggs in incubators.
The images were obtained from the Parque das Aves along with a statement saying: “In September 2023, eight eggs were seized by the Federal Police at the Foz do Iguacu airport from a passenger who was carrying them in her underwear. The eggs were sent to the Bird Park.”
Paloma Bosso, technical director of the Bird Park, said: “As soon as we received the call requesting support, we quickly mobilised to respond to the request.”
The eggs were incubated and a few days later, they began to hatch, and six chicks were born.
The zoo said that one egg had arrived broken and one of the embryos did not develop.
It said: “With the hatchings, the Bird Park’s technical team quickly identified that the chicks belonged to the Ramphastidae family, which includes toucans and aracaris.
“All neonatal care was directed to providing the ideal temperature and humidity for the healthy development of these chicks, which were initially fed 11 times a day.
As the weeks went by, it was determined that the birds were toco toucans (Ramphastos toco). Of the chicks born, five managed to reach 15 days of life.
“Intensive care from the technical team, which includes biologists, veterinarians, animal scientists, caretakers, food preparers, and over 80 other collaborators directly involved in animal care, gave these individuals a new chance at life.”
Paloma said: “Trafficked animals undergo traumatic experiences from the moment they are removed from their environment, which immediately tends to harm their physical, social, and psychological development, making their survival more difficult.”
The zoo said that after they were 30 days old, the toucan chicks were fed a special porridge four times a day.
And finally, after 40 days, they began eating on their own.
When they were 60 days old, the group of toucans was transferred to an aviary in the Bird Park.
Sadly, over time, two more animals passed away, the zoo said, without giving details.
The statement continued: “Today, the remaining birds live in a private area of the Bird Park, receiving full attention and care from the team.
“Their habitat includes a complex environment with vegetation and a variety of elements they would normally encounter in their natural habitat, encouraging typical species behaviours.
“They are fed twice daily with a balanced diet suited to their nutritional needs, along with environmental enrichment items that provide cognitive and mental stimulation as part of the Animal Welfare Programme.”
Paloma said: “Situations like this highlight the consequences of a practice so merciless to wildlife. It is estimated that for every 10 animals taken from their natural environment to supply the illegal market, nine unfortunately die so that a single individual can be illegally sold.
“Furthermore, trafficking indirectly affects other living beings, including humans, often without us even realising it. For all these reasons, it is crucial that people understand they should not support this type of crime, even unknowingly.”
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Story By: Joseph Golder, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Newsflash
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