DRAPER, Utah — A pair of Keel-billed toucans welcomed a baby chick to their nest last month at Loveland Living Planet Aquarium.
The new chick was born June 17, and the aquarium is still unsure what its gender is.
On average, about six Keel-billed toucan chicks are born each year at Association of Zoos and Aquariums accredited facilities nationwide.
Three years ago, the aquarium expanded the birds' habitat to best replicate breeding conditions in the wild.
It is rare for these kinds of birds to breed in zoos and aquariums because they prefer to build their nests high in the trees.
“The current population of Keel-billed toucans is decreasing in the wild, so we are thrilled to see that our toucans are breeding and have a chick,” said John Wright, Curator of Mammals and Birds at the Aquarium.
The chick is expected to emerge from the nest sometime in August, and aquarium staff is closely monitoring the chick via webcam.
The toucans are native to southern Mexico and South America and are known for their bright orange, green, purple and blue beaks.
