Page 41 - Brookfield Zoo Chicago Annual_Report_2024

Guam Kingfisher Historic Reintroduction
Brookfield Zoo Chicago participated Decades later, Brookfield Zoo
in a historic first in 2024 when the Chicago is thrilled to play a role
Sihek Recovery Program flew nine in getting the birds started on their
of the endangered Guam kingfishers homeward trek. The Zoo is home conserve
MEXICAN (or sihek, as the birds are known to the largest Guam kingfisher
WOLVES by the indigenous CHamoru people population in the world with 21 birds
of Guam) from zoos to the island in its care behind the scenes.
of Palmyra Atoll, where they were Over the years, it has produced
Mexican Wolf Recovery placed in pre-release aviaries approximately 80 chicks for the
Program to begin reintroduction efforts. recovery effort.
Among the birds was Yayas
A litter of nine Mexican wolf pups for DNA and given studbook numbers. The Guam kingfishers at Palmyra
(pronounced Za-zass like “sass”),
was born at Brookfield Zoo Chicago The biologists then monitored the Atoll have gradually left the
a male Guam kingfisher from
on April 27, 2024, to Vivilette and radio-collared mothers to verify that pre-release aviaries to explore the
Brookfield Zoo Chicago!
Amigo. Seven pups were placed each one returned to her den and island and hunt for prey. Before
into two wild Mexican wolf dens successfully accepted the zoo-born The project is many years in the release, they were given health
in New Mexico on May 7 and 8 as part pups as her own. The proven process making. Guam kingfishers went exams and fitted with tiny trackers
of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s is known as fostering—transferring extinct in the wild due to invasive so the project team can monitor their
Mexican Wolf Recovery Program— zoo-born wolf pups into the dens brown tree snakes introduced movements. Yayas has gained weight
a robust multi-agency conservation of wild packs to improve the genetic to the island during World War II, catching live prey and staked out his
effort to breed Mexican wolves diversity of the wild population. wiping out many native bird species. own territory with patches of dead
in professional care and release The successful reintroduction A rescue effort was launched coconut palms!
them into the wild to restore their strategy continues to bolster their in the 1980s to bring 28 Guam
endangered populations. population in the southwest United kingfishers into the care of zoos, GUAM
States—Arizona and New Mexico— including Brookfield Zoo Chicago, KINGFISHER
At 10 days old, the pups—six males
as well as in Mexico. This year marked with the goal of one day reintroduc-
and one female—were fed and kept
th
the 100 pup to be placed with a wild ing the species back into the wild.
warm by two animal care specialists
pack since fostering began in 2014.
and a veterinary technician from
Brookfield Zoo Chicago during their While seven of the pups were placed
flight to New Mexico. Upon arrival, in two Mexican wolf dens to be
members of the Mexican Wolf fostered in the wild as a part of the
Interagency Field Team stealthily Mexican Wolf Recovery Program,
covered the pups in the scent of the two remain at Regenstein Wolf Woods:
similarly aged wild pups already in Sierra and Molly. The sisters are a
the den to ensure they all smelled playful and well-loved pair. Sierra was
the same. Before being placed back named by the public’s popular vote!
in the den, all the pups were swabbed Spanish for “mountain range,” the
name “Sierra” pays homage to the
Mexican wolves’ native range near
the Sierra Madre Mountains.

ANNUAL REPORT 2024 31