Taronga Zoo Celebrates Regent Honeyeater Breeding Success

Posted By : The Animal Facts Editorial Team

Date: September 7, 2020 10:55 am

A regent honeyeater chick

Photo Credit: Taronga Western Plains Zoo/ Rick Stevens

Taronga Zoo and Taronga Western Plains Zoo in New South Wales, Australia are working to secure the future of the endangered regent honeyeater. As few as 400 regent honeyeaters are believed to exist in the wild.

They have announced success in their breeding program for National Threatened Species Day which is held on September 7th each year. This day is an important occasion to raise awareness of plants and animals which are at risk of extinction in Australia.

A pair of regent honeyeater chicks

Photo Credit: Taronga Western Plains Zoo/ Rick Stevens

Taronga Western Plains Zoo has welcomed the arrival of 10 chicks. This is a major success as it is the first year the species is being bred at Taronga Western Plains Zoo. Five out of the zoos six pairs have clutches.

At Taronga Zoo two regent honeyeater chicks have been born. It is expected they will welcome further chicks with one female currently brooding eggs and another four pairs working to build their nests.

A regent honeyeater nest

Photo Credit: Taronga Western Plains Zoo/ Rick Stevens

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NSW Environment minister Matt Kean said, “The Regent Honeyeater conservation breeding programs at Taronga’s two zoos are part of the NSW Government’s Saving Our Species program that addresses the growing number of plants and animals in NSW facing extinction.”

“I was very fortunate to witness a release of Taronga-bred Regent Honeyeaters into the wild in the Hunter Valley earlier this year,” added Kean.

Once widespread across Australia the regent honeyeater is now restricted to small areas from north-east Victoria to south-east Queensland.

An adult regent honeyeater

Photo Credit: Taronga Western Plains Zoo/ Rick Stevens

Regent honeyeaters breed from July to January and during this time a female may lay up to 3 clutches of eggs. Each clutch will usually lead to two successful chicks fledging.

The NSW Regent Honeyeater release is led by the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment in partnership with BirdLife Australia and Taronga Conservation Society Australia.

Learn more about Taronga Zoo and Taronga Western Plains Zoo on their website – Taronga