Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s Post

Conservation breakthrough alert! For the first time ever, a groundbreaking study published by our scientists in the Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens MDPI documents 11 critical developmental milestones for Guam kingfishers. This research is vital in informing husbandry practices and supporting a global effort to reintroduce this species into the wild. Also known as sihek by the CHamoru people of Guam, this species had been cared for exclusively at U.S. zoos for the past four decades after becoming Extinct in the Wild in the 1980s when a rescue effort brought the remaining nearly 30 birds into professional care. Brookfield Zoo Chicago has participated in the Sihek Recovery Program since its inception and currently cares for the largest sihek population at a single institution! This newly published study, based on decades of data (1989–2023), enhances our understanding of sihek chick growth and development—offering animal care experts normal development ranges and an understanding of when to intervene to best support a chick’s health and welfare. It demonstrates the essential role of accredited zoos in species conservation, from research and care to eventual reintroduction, as shown by Sihek Recovery Program’s reintroduction efforts that began in fall 2024.