This is the Bald Ibis that was seen in the Occitania region. The bird has been considered extinct in Central and Western Europe for 300 years.
Bald ibis, observed in France PHOTO: Ornithological group Roussillon
Four Ibis birds were seen at the end of October in the department of Pyrénées-Orientales in the region of Occitania. The discovery attracted the attention of specialists. One of the birds was photographed while on the roof of a house.
“At first, I didn’t believe (…) There is only one wild colony left, of about a hundred individuals, near us, in Morocco, and around ten individuals in Syria“, explained one of the specialists, according to Le Figaro.
The Roussillon Ornithological Group (GOR) excitedly posted the news on Facebook on Friday, October 25.
“Destroyed by humans, this species disappeared completely from Northern Europe for 300 years. Fortunately, this spotter was able to provide us with photos of this very exceptional encounter: they were bald ibis! But how was such a thing possible and what were they looking for here? Our investigation quickly led us to the reintroduction programs of this species in Europe, and in particular the one carried out in Germany/Austria. This program is based on the reacclimatization to wild life of captive bred birds“, the researchers explained.
In practice, very young bald ibises are entrusted to human “foster parents”, who take care of their mothering and feeding.
“Meeting the needs of young ibises is no easy task. Not only do they demand a lot of attention, but they also need to be fed regularly. Their favorite food? Delicious mealworms,” explained the researcher.
