Studies on Adaptibility of Released Milky Stork in the Wild

In Malaysia, Milky Stork (Mycteria cinerea) is facing extinction in the wild . Just ten birds were recorded in 2005 at the Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve in Perak. Among the reasons that reduced the number are human disturbance of nesting colonies, mangrove habitat loss, poaching, over predation and probably chemical contamination. In the world Milky Stork's population is estimated about 5,550 individuals and according to BirdLife classifies the species as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. The majority of storks are avaiilable in Indonesia, where about 5,000 in Sumatra and about 400 in west Java. A maximum of 150, perhaps considerably fewer, are shared between Malaysia and Tonle Sap lake, Cambodia.Thus they are in deed globally threatened.

In Zoo Negara, milky stork are successfully bred. Now over 100 birds are breeding in the zoo compond and some in the special cage build for them. Wildlife Department, Zoo Negara and Department of Biology are studying the possibility of releasing this birds to the wild and supporting the population decline in their natural habitat, in this case is Kuala Gula Bird Sunctuary. Professor Ahmad Ismail now leading in studying the adaptibility of the newly released milky stork from Zoo Negara in to wild habitat in Kuala Gula.