It’s literally a bird bath. Two keel-billed toucans were getting cleaned up inside their enclosure at the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo’s World of Birds.
“The toucans really enjoy bathing in the morning, so we run the misters for a few minutes to give them an opportunity to bathe, which is an important part for any bird in cleaning its feathers,” said Chuck Cerbini, the curator of ornithology at the zoo.
What You Need To Know
14 keel-billed toucans were rehabilitated at the Bronx Zoo after being confiscated by federal authorities
The toucans had been taken from their natural habitat through the illicit pet trade
Toucans are known for their large and colorful bills
The toucans, known for their large colorful bills, are among 14 that were successfully rehabilitated at the zoo after they were confiscated in July at the United States-Mexico border. They were being trafficked to the U.S. as part of the worldwide illicit pet trade, which experts at the Wildlife Conservation Society said is worse than it ever has been.
“When we brought them back to the zoo, they immediately when into triage, the first thing you have to do is get with the veterinary team and evaluate these individuals, because we really had no idea what state they were in,” said Cerbini.
The 1-year-old birds were in bad shape from the experience of being sedated, bound and hidden in the dashboard of a vehicle, including suffering from malnourishment and respiratory illness. They received special rehabilitation care at the zoo over a period of several months. All have made a full recovery.
“Of the 14 toucans that originally came here, 10 transferred to different partner institutions for breeding, four stayed here, the two you can see at World of Birds are two males together for companionship and socialization,” said Cerbini.
The other two are in an enclosure off-exhibit for privacy and hopefully breeding. Cerbini said they are proud to have the birds at the zoo because of the conservation message they send to those who visit.
“These animals, we hope, will serve as ambassadors that hope will relay the message about animal trafficking and why it’s really important to combat it at a global level, really,” said Cerbini.
Keel-billed toucans are typically found in the wild in parts of Mexico, Central and South America. There are around 40 to 50 species of toucans.