Tierpark Chemnitz: Offspring of arctic and native goose birds
The white-fronted geese, also known as barnacle geese, at Chemnitz Zoo are currently having offspring. A pair of geese are leading two chicks around the enclosure, which they share with the pink flamingos.
In their natural habitat - the Arctic - white-fronted geese often breed in groups on steep rock faces. They can only reach their nests there by flying, but are thus safe from Arctic foxes. The newly hatched chicks, which are not yet able to fly, then have to jump from the cliffs, which can be up to 30 metres high, in order to reach the feeding grounds. Not all chicks are successful in their attempt to leave these nests. Only around 50 per cent of the chicks hatched on such cliffs survive their first month of life.
Even if the offspring in human care have a much easier time getting to food, natural broods are not a matter of course here. However, at Chemnitz Zoo, natural breeding is very reliable every year. The zoo therefore makes an important contribution to the conservation of this species in zoological facilities. White-fronted geese or barnacle geese are among the animal species that are kept in many zoological institutions.
Incidentally, white-fronted geese are winter visitors in Germany. At the end of August, the geese begin to leave their Arctic breeding grounds. They move into their winter quarters on the British Isles and on the German-Dutch North Sea coast.
The shelduck, a native species of goose that can be seen in the "duck pond" at Chemnitz Zoo, is also currently reproducing. However, the goose and its four goslings are currently housed in the aviary with the flamingos. This is mainly to protect the chicks, as they could fall victim to crows on the large pond.
As with the white-fronted geese, there is no particularly pronounced sexual dimorphism in the shelducks. The plumage is the same colour in both sexes. Only in the breeding season do the ganders differ from the geese by a clearly developed red beak hump.
Shelducks have a very large distribution area. As they mostly breed on the coasts, they are mainly found in the north of Germany. They frequently breed in burrows and often use old rabbit or fox burrows. If none are available, free-standing nests are also built. The goose breeds alone, but is accompanied by the gander. Shelducks have one of the lowest separation rates of all birds, so they are relatively faithful to their mate and live monogamously.
www.tierpark-chemnitz.de
Opening hours in June:
Zoo: 9 am to 7 pm, last admission 6 pm
Game enclosure: 8 am to 6 pm, last admission 5 pm
