Extinct-in-the-wild chicks hatch at London Zoo

Three dove chicks extinct in the wild have hatched at London Zoo.

The Wild Socorro chicks, who emerged from their eggs in late March, are the offspring of two pairs of parents who arrived at the zoo in late 2024 as part of an international breeding programme.

The zoo aims to boost numbers of the doves so that they can eventually be reintroduced to their native habitat on Socorro Island, off the coast of Mexico.

Gary Ward, London Zoo's curator of birds, said it was a "big step forward in our role to bring this species back from the brink of extinction".

There are approximately 180 Socorro doves left in the world, cared for by fewer than 50 conservation institutions.

Mr Ward said that each successful hatch was "a major step forward" for the Socorro Dove Project.

"They have been extinct in the wild since 1972, surviving only thanks to carefully managed breeding programmes across Europe and North America."

Adrian Walls, team leader for tropical birds at London Zoo, said the chicks were growing quickly.

He said that as the chicks continue to develop, "their dusty brown feathers will gradually shift into the rich cinnamon tones of adult Socorro doves, complete with incredible iridescent pink and blue feathers on the nape of their necks".

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