A dove which is extinct in the wild has hatched for the first time at a zoo as part of an international conservation breeding programme.
The Socorro dove emerged from its egg in late August at Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire.
The aim is to boost the numbers of the rare birds so they can be reintroduced to their native habitat on Socorro Island, off the coast of Mexico.
Gary Ward, the zoo’s curator of birds, said it was an incredible moment to welcome the chick which is “a step forward for the survival of a species that would have otherwise been lost forever”.
He added: “These birds sadly only exist in human care, meaning that those of us looking after them in zoos are uniquely placed to protect the species, and return them to their native habitat in the not-too-distant future.”
There are approximately 209 Socorro doves left in the world, cared for by fewer than 50 conservation institutions.
Nine others have hatched at Whipsnade’s sister-site, London Zoo.
The chicks living across the two sites are believed to account for almost 5% of the species’ entire population.
Socorro doves once lived in the dense woodlands of Socorro Island, but were declared extinct in the wild in 1972 after severe habitat loss caused by deforestation.
Tim Savage, manager of the bird team at Whipsnade Zoo, said: “Our Socorro dove chick is doing well and growing quickly.
“It’s already taken the first step towards independence by fledging the nest – but will still be reliant on mum and dad for food.
“Dad has been doing the majority of parenting, keeping the chick company, feeding it, and encouraging it to forage for its own food too.”