At the zoo in Nasu Town, Tochigi Prefecture, where the national special natural monument "Japanese Grouse" is bred, three chicks were born this month and are growing energetically.
The Nasu Animal Kingdom, a zoo in Nasu Town, has participated in initiatives such as the Ministry of the Environment to increase the number of endangered Japanese grouse, and has succeeded in breeding for the second consecutive year.
This year, one pack of nine breeding birds laid seven eggs from late May to early last month, and the female parent bird warmed the eggs, resulting in four chicks on the first day of this month. It means that it has returned.
However, one was found dead on the 5th, and the remaining three eggs died before hatching.
The three chicks that were born are living well, walking after the mother bird and actively feeding.
Tetsuya Sato, the director of the zoo, said, "I was happy to succeed because I succeeded in natural breeding for the first time last year and the challenge was to continue."
The chicks are apt to get sick for about two weeks after they are born, so we keep observing carefully at the zoo and do not plan to release the chicks for the time being.