EAZA Ex situ Programme (EEP)

Hill mynas complex

(Gracula spp)


Coordinator: Simon Bruslund 
Institution:   Vogelpark Marlow


→ EAZA Member Area

 

Vogelpark Marlow

IUCN Red List status

IUCN Red List CR

 
 
 
Direct Conservation icon • Research
The current EAZA population will function as a source for research into husbandry (poor breeding results so far, nutrition) and taxonomy (number of (sub)species, what do we have in our collections, hybridization). The outcome of this research might lead to an insurance role for the remaining population in its original range. 

• Training
The current ex situ population can be an excellent model species to allow for staff training in EAZA but also in range countries to get (husbandry) experience working with (more threatened) species of the same genus. 
   
Indirect Conservation icon • Conservation education
The hill myna is one of the priority species used for the EAZA Silent Forest campaign and can still be considered as an excellent species to educate visitors about the ongoing songbird crisis.
   
Non Conservation icon • Education/exhibit
Hill mynas are rather unique given their mimicking skills, making them attractive exhibit birds while at the same time they could tell the conservation message of the songbird crisis. 
 
 
 

Programme partners

BirdLife International Manchester Metropolitan University IUCN SSC Asian Songbird Trade Specialist Group
     
Silent Forest Zootier des Jahres 2020  

 

 


 

 

 


Programme numbers

In June 2019, the Hill mynas complex EEP had 23 animals in 11 institutions.

Programme highlights

  • The EAZA Silent Forest Campaign ran from 2017 to 2019 and raised more than €550.000 for projects with the aim to improve the situation of Asian songbirds (including hill mynas) in their natural habitat and to develop and increase knowledge and understanding of the threats to these birds and how zoos can contribute to save them. 
  • The activities and projects initiated during the Campaign will continue as the Silent Forest Group: a working group of the EAZA Songbird Taxon Advisory Group (Songbird TAG). 
  • The EAZA Silent Forest Group also has a Facebook page where news updates are regularly posted.
  • Zooquaria 112 (summer 2021) has a follow-up article of the work the EAZA Silent Forest Group has been doing after the campaign officially closed. On pages 12-13, Zooquaria 108 (Spring 2020) features an article about the closure of the Silent Forest campaign. 
  • EAZA published its 2021 Annual TAG Report.
 
 
 

LIFE logo with white paddingThis work is supported by the European Union LIFE NGO funding programme. The European Union is not responsible for the views displayed in publications and/or in conjunction with the activities for which the grant is used.