One of the world’s rarest bird species, the blue-eyed ground dove, has hatched in Brazil thanks to the expertise of Toledo Zoo staff.

The blue-eyed ground dove was rediscovered in Brazil in 2015 after 75 years of believing the bird was extinct. Only 11 adult species remain in the wild.

However, three chicks hatched in April through a partnership with the Toledo Zoo, the Bronx Zoo; the Chester Zoo, located in the United Kingdom; Parque das Aves and SAVE Brasil.

“The Toledo Zoo bird staff is excited to lend their expertise to this project,” Staci Bekker, area manager of the Toledo Zoo bird department, said in a press release. “Our team developed a successful hand-rearing protocol for fruit doves, which helped shape the techniques.”

SAVE Brasil and Parque das Aves are Brazilian institutions that have overseen the process of nest monitoring and habitat protection. The birds were made possible through artificial incubation.

Joe Wood, manager of international conservation programs at the Toledo Zoo, helped develop the hand-rearing process that hatched the new chicks.

“Our team at the Toledo Zoo provided guidance and technical leadership that helped make this success possible,” said Wood. “The hatching of these chicks gives us hope that the species still has a chance, and it shows what’s possible when international partners come together with the right tools and expertise.”

Since 2019, Wood has been working in field efforts in Brazil and even created an aviary in Australia to test the artificial incubation technique.

Then, in 2023, Wood traveled back to Brazil to directly assist in hand-rearing the newly hatched blue-eyed ground dove chicks. The team in Brazil now continues to use Wood’s knowledge in their processes.

“This is science-based conservation at its best,” said Wood. “It’s about combining field knowledge, genetics, animal care and international cooperation to give this species a future.”

The Toledo Zoo is the closest zoo to Bowling Green, located about 23 miles north of BGSU.