After fifteen years of anticipation, Kristiansand Zoo in Norway is celebrating a major conservation milestone with the birth of its first-ever African grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus) chick.
The youngster hatched around three weeks ago and, according to keepers, is developing well alongside its parents inside the nest box.
“We have been waiting 15 years for this moment, and finally it has happened. The chick is now three weeks old. The first weeks after hatching are always critical, but so far everything looks very promising,” said keeper Ben De Kerf.
For now, the chick remains safely inside the nest box with its parents and is expected to become visible to visitors in the coming weeks.
A species threatened by illegal wildlife trade
The birth is particularly significant because the African grey parrot is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
While habitat loss through deforestation continues to affect wild populations, the greatest threat has long been illegal capture for the international pet trade.
The international commercial trade in wild-caught African grey parrots was banned in 2017, helping to reduce pressure on the species, although it remains under serious threat.
Part of a European conservation programme
Kristiansand Zoo’s African grey parrots are managed as part of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) Ex situ Programme.
The programme aims to maintain a healthy, genetically diverse population in European zoological institutions as a safeguard for the future of the species.
One of the world’s most intelligent birds
African grey parrots are widely regarded as among the most intelligent birds on Earth.
They are capable of learning hundreds of words, recognising colours and shapes, solving complex problems and accurately mimicking human speech, other animals and a wide variety of environmental sounds.
Ironically, these remarkable cognitive abilities have also made them one of the world’s most sought-after pet birds, fuelling decades of illegal wildlife trafficking and contributing to the dramatic decline of wild populations across Central and West Africa.
