Our Australian wildlife keepers have proudly

announced a very special new arrival, a Glossy Black Cockatoo chick. It has

been seven years since Taronga Zoo was last successful at hatching a Glossy

Black Cockatoo, being both complex and specialised in their needs there have

been many challenges along the way which have finally led to this very welcome

event for our Bird Keepers. The chick hatched on the 25th of May,

and initially only resembled a small ball of yellow fluff with one very large

beak making it very cute looking indeed.

First time mother Gloucester was hatched at

Taronga in 2004 with the help of Bird Keepers as her mother had never raised a

chick properly before. Poor Gloucester also fell ill 12 months ago so has

really come around to pair up, lay, incubate her own egg and now also be a

great mum. 

At seven weeks of age the chick is doing very well

and will be expected to fledge from its tree hollow in around three weeks time.

This will be when visitors may glimpse Gloucester and her chick exploring their

dense Bush bird aviary opposite the Koala Walkabout at the top of the zoo.   

Glossy Black Cockatoo Chick Photo Gallery