A lovesick Hornbill at Fife Zoo is looking for a girlfriend after his quest to find "the one" was thwarted by Brexit. Zazu, a rare Von der Decken hornbill, arrived the Cupar zoo as part of an endangered species breeding programme.
The tropical bird arrived at the zoo earlier this year and is currently sharing his brand-new enclosure with other bird species including Hamerkop, Turacos and Whistling Ducks. After Brexit, the transportation of birds across Europe has become more challenging, as well as the recent Bird Flu outbreak, which has seen Zazu's love-life put on hold.
It is hoped that if a suitable mate can be found for the bird, then the zoo will be able to contribute to global captive breeding efforts to safeguard the species from extinction in the wild.
Fife Zoo Director, Mike Knight, said: "We’re actively looking across Europe for a partner for Zazu, but this has proved difficult following the recent Avian influenza outbreak and also the increased challenges faced with moving animals across Europe since Brexit.
"Zazu seems perfectly happy sharing our new aviary with the other bird species and we’re also adding the beautiful Madagascan Fody to the aviary in the coming weeks."
Von der Decken Hornbills are usually found in dry regions of Eastern Africa. Males like Zazu are easily identifiable by their large red bills, whilst females have black bills.
"Female Von der Decken hornbills bury themselves underground to hatch and rear their chicks with the male hornbill feeding the mother and chicks through a slit in the underground mud nest.
Zazu can be seen daily at Fife Zoo in a brand new African themed walk-through aviary which allows visitors to get closer than ever before to a visually stunning array of birds.
Fife Zoo - which is also home to animals such as endangered Grevy’s zebra, meerkats and lemurs - is currently expanding as part of a ten-year master plan.
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