4 ostrich chicks hatched thru incubator 1st time in Bangladesh

For the first time in Bangladesh, four ostrich chicks hatched from eggs in incubators at Bangabandhu Safari Park in Gazipur.

Previously, ostrich chicks hatched naturally from eggs two times in the park but this is the first time they were hatched by using incubators, according to park authorities.

The chicks hatched within 5 to 7 January.

In 2013, six ostriches were imported from South Africa in two phases and placed in the south-west corner of the park next to the Emu birds.

In 2017, one ostrich chick hatched naturally and two more the following year.

Even though ostriches laid enough eggs every year those were not hatching, so this time an attempt was made to hatch them through an incubator.

The park authority previously saw success in hatching peacock eggs in the incubator.

Junior Wildlife Scout Samir Sur Chowdhury who is in-charge of looking after the ostrich chicks said that the temperature of their room is checked regularly and babies are being fed spinach, cabbage and starter feed.

Bangabandhu Safari Park Acting Supervisor and Assistant Forest Conservator Tabibur Rahman said despite regular breeding babies were not hatching from eggs.

"We have seen success after applying this method (incubator). I'm hopeful that from now on we will be hatching ostrich chicks regularly," he added.