Birdland was established over 60 years ago in one man’s back garden. Since then, it has developed into a nine-acre site, home to over 500 animals. Over the years, the role that Birdland plays has expanded on a global level; miles away from being for sole entertainment purposes.
Over 110 different species of bird that originate from all over the globe are currently based at Birdland. This means that the winged residents of the park are very diverse, making it peculiar that a small village in the Cotswolds would be home to so many exotic animals.
Some may question the ethical issues surrounding zoos, seeing them as large corporations that take animals away from their natural habitat, all to earn a profit. Alistair Keen, head keeper at Birdland, spoke about the reality of Birdland’s main aim which is conservation and education. “A lot of these animals are struggling in the wild and we have a lot of endangered birds here.” One species that Keen spoke about was the Bali Myna, where at one point there were only nine in the world. Today, thanks to zoos, there are now about 3000 which highlights the success of such breeding programmes.
Birdland is part of several breeding programmes, including the European Endangered Species Programme, that uses ‘stud books’ to ensure that bloodlines and populations are strengthened when breeding. For this reason, birds in the park are paired up and not kept separately- apart from one antisocial cockatoo that “hates anything that is another cockatoo.”
Birdland runs many educational programmes for schools and youth groups etc, and Keen discussed how zoos are largely education-based now. He has a very strong passion for this and believes it is vital to inspire the younger generation and get them enthusiastic about wanting to save and protect birds. From a back-garden project to a global mission, it is in his belief that “kids of this generation are the ones who are going to save a lot of these endangered animals.”
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