Black grouse (Tetrao tetrix) chickens were hatched at Sosto Zoo
Our colleagues counted down the days with expectation and pleasure at the end of the 24-26-day-long incubation period, since this endangered species is extremely stress-sensitive, so its keeping requires serious attention and technological concern.
The black grouse became extinct in the wild more than 100 years ago in Hungary. Its last registered occurrence was in the Nyírség region. Since then, it was seen once in the Bükk plateau in 1966.
The black grouse preferred the closeness of water used to live in the area with birch moor forest and alder fernwood of the Nyírség region. The drainage of the wetland was the main cause of its extiction in the wild. The coordination of the reintroduction program of the black grouse is organized by the Nyírerdő Zrt. Our zoo also joined to this grand initiative and we housed the individuals that compose the base of the stock.
Mainly we were busy to maintain the calmness of the birds, not thinking of the breeding for the present, although the fertile eggs and the hatching chickens confirm the successfulness of the rut.
