Flemish zoo expects 150 stork cubs this year

In Belgian animal park "Planckendael", caretakers started ringing the stork chicks this Wednesday 1 June. The caretakers count 86 nests, four more than last year. The number of young animals is around 150, a figure that makes the zoo in Mechelen very happy. Over the next few days, caretakers will systematically visit all nests they can reach to provide the young animals with a ring. 

"There are about 12 nests that we cannot reach, that are too high or in a place that is very difficult to reach," said Amanda Wielemans, spokeswoman for Planckendael. "Only when the animals can leave the nest themselves will we know how many young are in those nests. In total there are 86 nests, four more than last year. The number of successful nests is also higher, many animal couples have reproduced this year ."

Planckendael currently has a colony of about 200 adult animals. Storks are nest loyal, so most return every year. "Last year we had a very wet period and there were fewer nests, but this year there was a long dry period and apparently the animals did not suffer much from this. We will ring in the coming days, only then can we give definitive figures," added Wielemans.

The caretakers currently estimate that 147 young storks have been born. It is possible that some animals will die before they are strong enough to leave their nests.

(VIV)

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© BELGA PHOTO (ERIC LALMAND)