Incredibly Rare, Secretary Bird Chick Hatches at the San Antonio Zoo

San Antonio Zoo have announced the hatching of a secretary bird, a rare species both in the wild and in managed care. This is the first time that the zoo have successfully hatched the species in 15 years.

Parents Bernard (Dad) and Satinka (Mom) have spent 5 years together forming a bond before welcoming their chick in to the world.

Only twelve zoos across North America are working with the secretary bird and only two others have reported a hatching this year making the accomplishment even more special.

The zoo has a long history of breeding and conserving endangered species. "We are thrilled about the arrival of this secretary bird chick," said Tim Morrow, President & CEO of San Antonio Zoo. "It serves as a testament to the dedication and expertise of our animal care team. We hope that this successful hatch will raise awareness about the critical conservation work being done to protect these magnificent birds and their natural habitats." 

Secretary birds are one of two ground-dwelling birds of prey and have become famous for their ability to take on snakes. Their razor sharp talons allow them to take down mambas and cobras with ease.

Unfortunately since 2009 numbers of the species have plummeted prompting the IUCN for the conservation of nature to raise their threat level from 'least concern' in that year to 'endangered' by 2020. Excessive fire, deforestation, poaching and capture for trade have all contributed to their decline.