Chick of the Crested Curassow can now be seen by visitors at Mangal das Garças
The achievement is the result of a partnership between Mangal and the Congo Reserve in Maranhão. As part of an exchange, scarlet ibises were sent there and the park received a male curassow.
The Mangal das Garças Zoobotanical Park has a new reason to celebrate the preservation of Amazonian fauna. A chick of the Crested Curassow (Crax fasciolata), a species considered vulnerable to extinction, is already adapted to its enclosure and can now be seen by visitors.
The achievement is the result of a partnership between Mangal and the Congo Reserve in Maranhão. As part of an exchange, scarlet ibises were sent there and the park received a male curassow. He joined the existing female in Belém, and from this union, a clutch was produced. The first egg was not viable, but the second brought new life.
The female, however, did not carry out the incubation process, and the technical team at Mangal took over the process. The egg was placed in an incubator and monitored daily until hatching. “It was 28 days of constant monitoring of the embryo's development. The birth was exciting for all of us. As far as we know, this may have been the first birth of the species in captivity in Pará,” says veterinarian Camilo González.
The chick required intensive care and creative strategies. In the first days, it had difficulty feeding. To stimulate the behavior, the team placed a chick as a reference, and the young curassow learned to eat by observing its companion. Later, mirrors were used so it could recognize its own species.
After overcoming each of these stages, the bird is now adapted to the aviary. The coexistence will be gradual, always observing the well-being of all animals. Now, visitors have the opportunity to closely follow this result of conservation work.
According to González, curassows belong to one of the most threatened bird families in Brazil. In the wild, they suffer from hunting, as they are large and conspicuous birds, making them easy prey. The veterinarian explains that Mangal's goal is not only to ensure reproduction but also to generate scientific knowledge and promote environmental education, bringing the public closer to the importance of this species for the Amazon.
Curiosities
The Crested Curassow is a galliform of the family Cracidae. It is also called mutum-pinima and mutum-pinicha in Pará and Maranhão, names that mean "curassow full of spots." Herbivorous, it mainly feeds on fruits and leaves, lives in groups, and is known for its skittish behavior, reflecting its vulnerability in the forest.
The birth and development of this chick mark a step forward in preservation efforts and pave the way for the continuation of captive breeding programs. The moment reinforces the role of Mangal das Garças as a reference in conservation, education, and sustainable tourism.
The Mangal das Garças Zoobotanical Park is managed by the Social Organization Pará 2000, through a management contract with the State Tourism Secretariat and the government of Pará. The space operates from Tuesday to Sunday, from 8 AM to 6 PM, with free entry. It closes on Mondays for maintenance.
Text: Beatriz Santos/Ascom OS Pará 2000
