it was to collect an egg for hatching. For a start, the breeding season is very short – only from November to January – with each breeding pair only likely to produce one or maybe two eggs during that window, and sometimes none at all. Then, after an egg is laid, it is crucial that keepers grab it before it is damaged. “(In the park) there is exposure to predators like tree snakes, and sometimes the dad, if you don’t separate the father he can try to mate with the mum again and destroy the nest – how do you say, the father is in a climax stage! And the eggs will fall. “So, when we see the mum has laid the egg, we separate the dad. Maybe the mum could incubate the egg like they do in the wild, but we don’t want to take the risk so we bring it to the incubator. “The keepers have to mastermind their observation skills! When we see the mum collecting the nesting materials, we know the next step is to lay the eggs so every morning after or before feeding we go and check her nest.” Before the egg can be moved, the egg incubator has to be switched on for 24 hours to make sure the heat and humidity are stable. Then, as soon as the egg hatches, the chick is moved to a second incubator for further close monitoring. When Bosh hatched in 2021, Francis
said Brett created a homemade incubator using a cage with nesting material positioned over a heat lamp. This time around, the team had access to a Rcom 10 Pro incubator with digital settings that JP (Johnpaul) brought with him from England. However, despite being an improvement, Francis laughingly says his boss refers to the Rcom as ‘a toy’ as it is not up to the park’s breeding requirements. “It works, but advanced technology could significantly improve our success rates,” he said. JP later confirmed this. “We desperately require sponsorship to upgrade these,” he said. Meanwhile, at just five months old, little Otto is already fledging – growing feathers and gaining independence. Within six months, he will be reintroduced into a semi-natural environment. More than anything, Francis says that Otto’s arrival underscores the importance of the park’s conservation programs, helped by international partners such as the Wildlife Conservation Society, which aim to educate the public about the threats to their wildlife. “This success is more than just a breeding milestone, it’s a symbol of hope. It proves that with the right knowledge, resources and dedication, we can preserve our natural heritage for future generations,” he said.
One of the park’s collection of 12 Raggiana birds of paradise
years that a Raggiana had been bred in captivity in PNG. Now four, Bosh’s gender as a male has at last been determined. Francis said the four Raggiana birds that were Bosh’s and Otto’s parents were breeding pairs surrendered to the park from the wild in Central Province. They are among 12 Raggiana birds now permanent residents of the park. He also explained how hard
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