A milestone in international biodiversity conservation has been achieved with the transfer of a female Edwards's Pheasant, born at Bioparc Fuengirola, to Vietnam. This individual, after a preparation period in Germany, has joined a project aimed at returning this critically endangered species to its natural environment.
This event marks a particularly significant moment for Bioparc Fuengirola and the Fundación Bioparc, as it is the first species born and protected at the Málaga park to actively participate in a reintroduction project. This achievement is the culmination of decades of coordinated work among zoos, scientific institutions, and international conservation organizations.
The Edwards's Pheasant (Lophura edwardsi), native to the humid forests of central Vietnam, is considered one of the most threatened birds on the planet, possibly extinct in the wild for over two decades. Habitat loss, poaching, and the ecological consequences of the Vietnam War pushed the species to the brink of disappearance. The last time an individual was seen outside a conservation center was over twenty years ago.
Thanks to international ex situ conservation programs, coordinated among various zoological institutions and conservation entities, the species has a real chance of returning to its natural habitat. The transferred female is among more than 40 individuals carefully selected by the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP), based on genetic, health, and behavioral criteria.
Following a preparation and quarantine phase at the TerraPark conservation center in Germany, the individuals were transferred to Vietnam as part of the international project "Bring Back Blue." In this initial phase, they will remain at a specialized center for adaptation, formation of breeding pairs, and the birth of new generations, paving the way for definitive reintroduction.
“"Seeing how an animal born at Bioparc Fuengirola can one day contribute to restoring a wild population in Vietnam is one of the greatest conservation achievements we could have imagined. This project demonstrates that modern zoos play a fundamental role in conserving global biodiversity."
The project, led by Vietnamese and international conservation organizations with the collaboration of European zoos and scientific entities, aims not only to recover the Edwards's Pheasant but also to protect the tropical forests where the species historically inhabited and to raise local community awareness about the importance of conserving their natural heritage.
