STEVENS - PINK-BACKED PELICAN



115



The chicks fed on Diet A at Tierpark Berlin started off following a similar

growth curve as the others but later their growth slowed down.


Conclusion


The hand-rearing techniques used by the collections in the study appear

to be working to a degree, as a number of birds have been hand-reared using

them. The techniques currently being applied at Longleat, look promising but

the diet and feeding regime needs to be tested on a larger number of chicks

to get more accurate results. This also applies to the results shown on the

first graph (p. 114). The problem experienced at Longleat with yolk retention

does not seem to have occurred in the other collections and is something

which needs further research on a wider scale (i.e. the participation of more

collections). Given more time and the cooperation of other collections, I

feel that answers to the above questions can be found. As I was writing up

this study a lot of other questions occurred to me and in hindsight I wish 1

had produced a more in-depth questionaire.


Recommendations


I feel that the following points should be addressed in the future, so that

the breeding programme for the Pink-backed Pelican can move forward and

achieve greater egg viability and survival of the young:


Research into yolk retention: its causes, management and most

importantly its prevention.


The introduction of more female birds into the existing group at Longleat,

to increase genetic variation and level out the uneven ratio of males to

females. This may also improve the likelyhood of the group producing

parent-reared chicks.


Research into how other collections manage to hatch and raise parent-

reared birds.


Greater analysis of diets to determine which produces the best food

intake to growth ratio.


Greater cooperation between collections which have successfully bred

this species, so that a clear set of guidelines can be produced, that are

scientifically accurate and can be used by other collections.


Acknowlegements


I would like to thank Mark Tye, my Head of Section at Longleat Safari

Park, for sharing with me his knowledge of hand-rearing Pink-backed

Pelicans and for his support throughout the study. I would also like to

thank Mike Curzon MBE for his help and guidance when I was researching

relevant reference material. Without their help, guidance and support, this



