There are some exciting new arrivals to discover in the Tropical House at Chemnitz Zoo: three bare-faced curassows (Crax fasciolata) have recently taken up residence in the free-flight hall, where visitors can observe them. The birds come from different sources – one was taken over from Hexentanzplatz Zoo, whilst the other two come from a private breeder.
Bare-faced curassows are native to the deciduous and rainforests of the South American lowlands. They owe their name to the bare patch of skin around their eyes. A male currently lives in the free-flight hall alongside two females. The sexes are easily distinguished: the cock has predominantly black plumage with a yellow base to the beak and characteristic ruffled feathers on the crown. The hens have a striking black-and-white banded crest, as well as banded markings on the breast and back.
The species belongs to the family of ho-ho chickens. A distinctive feature of these birds is their enlarged trachea, which enables them to produce very loud calls. Within its natural range, the species is considered endangered. The main causes of this are habitat destruction and hunting. Housing these birds in the Tropical House at Chemnitz Zoo therefore offers an opportunity to raise visitors’ awareness of South America’s biodiversity and the importance of species conservation.
A pair of yellow-rumped cacics (Cacicus cela) has also recently moved into the free-flight hall. These South American songbirds are characterised by their lively social behaviour and striking appearance. In the wild, they live in large, noisy flocks and inhabit vast areas of northern South America.
Particularly noteworthy are their hanging pouch nests, which are often built near wasp nests and thus presumably offer additional protection against nest predators. With their glossy black plumage, bright yellow wing coverts and yellow rump, the yellow-rumped cassiques enrich the free-flight hall with yet another fascinating species.
Opening hours (April to September)
Chemnitz Zoo: daily 9 am to 7 pm
Oberrabenstein Wildlife Enclosure: daily 9 am to 6 pm
Last admission and ticket office closes one hour before closing time
www.tierpark-chemnitz.de
