Successful Vulturine Guineafowl breeding at Sparsholt College
Posted: 11th March, 2022Sparsholt College and University Centre Sparsholt has successfully bred Vulturine Guineafowl for the first time at their Animal Health and Welfare Research Centre (AHWRC). Five eggs have hatched with no mishaps and all five chicks are doing well and are growing from strength to strength each day.
This species of guineafowl is native to Eastern Africa and is easily the most impressive looking of the guineafowl family and is also sometimes known as the "Royal Guineafowl" because of its striking appearance.
The Vulturine Guineafowl is underrepresented in UK zoos so we hope that our five chicks will contribute towards that changing, by improving genetic diversity and seeing this species bred in other UK zoos in the future.
Kira Cattell AHWRC Bird Technician says, "The guineafowl pair at Sparsholt College are an absolute pleasure to work with and it has been so rewarding to see their eggs hatch and produce such healthy chicks. I am really looking forward to seeing them grow and then find new home for them in other UK zoos".
Related Members
-
News
Threatened geckos returned to the wild five years after being rescued from oil spill in Mauritius 30th July, 2025In a major step to prevent another extinction on Mauritius, Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust has returned 57 eggs of the endangered lesser night gecko… -
News
Shaldon Wildlife Trust becomes first UK zoo to care for rare mouse lemur 30th July, 2025Shaldon Wildlife Trust is thrilled to announce the arrival of two Goodman’s mouse lemurs, Microcebus lehilahytsara, from Zoo Zurich, marking the… -
News
Blog: the unspoken heroes of our ecosystem - who love dung 28th July, 2025Dr Sarah Jayne Smith (zoo, aquarium and wildlife veterinarian) on why we should let dung beetles into our lives: I remember the first time I learnt about…
