Mandai Wildlife Group and its conservation arm, Mandai Nature, have welcomed the first-ever Philippine cockatoo fledgling hatched under their conservation breeding programme at Bird Paradise.
Developed in partnership with Katala Foundation Inc (KFI) and supported by the Philippines’ Department of Environment and Natural Resources, this breeding success marks a significant milestone in the ongoing fight to save one of the world’s most endangered parrot species.
A Critical Win for a Species on the Brink
The Philippine cockatoo, or red-vented cockatoo, is listed as Critically Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, with fewer than 750 mature individuals remaining in the wild. Once widespread across the Philippines, their numbers have plummeted due to illegal trapping and habitat loss, leaving Palawan as their last stronghold.
Despite not breeding for more than a decade, the parent pair successfully produced a chick this year. A key factor was minimising human disturbance during nesting, allowing the birds to care for the egg naturally. When the chick was later found on the ground, likely due to the parents’ inexperience, keepers intervened swiftly, transferring it to the Breeding and Research Centre for hand-rearing.
Now four months old, the fledgling is thriving, taking its first exploratory flights under expert care. It remains off-exhibit at Bird Paradise as plans for its future are discussed with conservation partners.
Building a Lifeline for the Future
The parent birds were rescued in Palawan and brought to Singapore in 2015 under a wildlife loan agreement. Unsuitable for re-release, they now form part of an insurance colony at Bird Paradise, safeguarding genetic diversity and ensuring a sustainable population under managed care. Their offspring could play a vital role in reinforcing wild populations in the future.
Long-Term Conservation Commitment
KFI has been at the forefront of Philippine cockatoo conservation for over two decades, driving habitat restoration, anti-poaching initiatives, and community-based protection. Its efforts on Rasa Island alone have grown cockatoo numbers from 25 in 1998 to over 350 in 2021.
For more than ten years, Mandai Nature has supported these efforts through funding, veterinary expertise, and species management, strengthening fieldwork in Palawan.
Shaping the Path Ahead
In July, Mandai Nature, as the Southeast Asia regional resource centre for the IUCN SSC Conservation Planning Specialist Group, hosted a multi-stakeholder workshop with government agencies, NGOs, academics, indigenous communities, and ex situ partners. The discussion set the stage for a future national conservation plan for the Philippine cockatoo, ensuring this milestone fledgling is just the beginning of a much larger conservation journey.
