<\/p>\n
\n The greater coucal was raised by keepers at Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens in Oxfordshire after its parents needed help.\n<\/p>\n
\n Staff cared for the chick in the park\u2019s dedicated incubation facility, giving it the best chance of survival.\n<\/p>\n
\n Greater Coucal named “Skunk” at Cotswold Wildlife Park. (Image: Cotswold Wildlife Park \/ SWNS)\n<\/p>\n
\n Named Skunk, it has a black body and a crest of white feathers.\n<\/p>\n
\n The newly hatched bird needed feeding every two hours during the day because of its big appetite.\n<\/p>\n
\n It weighed 10.9 grams at hatching, but grew quickly to 240 grams and reached adult size in just over a month.\n<\/p>\n
\n Two more eggs were laid by the parents and were also hand-reared by the team.\n<\/p>\n
\n Those chicks were named Badger and Bodger. They have now outgrown their incubator and joined Skunk in an off-show aviary.\n<\/p>\n
\n All three remain under the watchful eye of keepers.\n<\/p>\n
\n A baby bird which looks like a skunk and has been named Skunk, has been hand-reared at a wildlife park – a UK zoological collection first. (Image: Cotswold Wildlife Park \/ SWNS)\n<\/p>\n
\n Head keeper Natalie Horner said: “The chicks hatch with the most amazing feather composition, giving them a rather unique look.”\n<\/p>\n
\n Head keeper Natalie Horner said: “Their striking black-and-white colouring has certainly inspired their names and they really are some of the most memorable-looking chicks we\u2019ve ever hand-reared.”\n<\/p>\n
\n The park is celebrating three first-time breeding successes involving Blacksmith Plovers, Emerald Doves and Greater Coucals.\n<\/p>\n
\n Female adult Coucal – mother to “Skunk” (Image: Cotswold Wildlife Park \/ SWNS)\n<\/p>\n
\n Head keeper Natalie Horner said: “We\u2019ve had a great bird breeding season this year including two clutches of Blacksmith Plover chicks.\n<\/p>\n
\n “Three chicks in each clutch! They have all now fully fledged and moved into their own aviaries off show.”\n<\/p>\n
#skunklike #chicks #handreared #Cotswolds<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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