A Philippine cockatoo under a conservation breeding program at Mandai Wildlife Group’s Bird Paradise in Singapore has successfully fledged for the first time, marking a major milestone in the species’ recovery efforts led by Palawan-based Katala Foundation Inc. (KFI).
The program, developed through the KFI Philippine Cockatoo Conservation Program with support from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), represents a hopeful step for one of the world’s most threatened parrots. Fewer than 750 mature individuals remain in the wild, mostly found in the islands of Palawan.
Dr. Jessica Lee, Head of Avian Programmes and Partnerships at Mandai Nature, said the success reflects the power of international collaboration.
“What makes this milestone particularly meaningful is the connection between field-based work in the Philippines and zoo-based efforts in Singapore,” Lee said.
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“By bridging in situ and ex situ strategies, we’re strengthening conservation outcomes for the Philippine cockatoo,” she added.
Mandai Nature continues to support KFI’s long-term conservation initiatives in Palawan through funding, veterinary collaboration, and species management expertise, working toward securing a brighter future for the critically endangered bird.
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