WACO, Texas — The Cameron Park Zoo family just got a little bigger.
The zoo has announced the arrival of some new hatchlings, a little blue heron and two roseate spoonbills.
The zoo says the arrival of the hatchlings marks "another milestone" in their conservation efforts, and will "enrich the biodiversity of our zoo and contribute to vital conservation initiatives."
The little blue heron is the first of its kind to hatch at the Cameron Park Zoo, according to zoo staff. The little blue heron population in the wild has reportedly decreased by nearly half in the last 50 years and the Cameron Park Zoo is one of very few zoos that house the rare bird.
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Eight of the 12 little blue herons listed in the global zoo population reportedly reside at the Cameron Park Zoo.
The arrival of the spoonbills also "signifies a step forward" in the zoo's efforts to support the species, said the zoo in a release. The zoo says their spoonbills receive a "meticulously balanced nutritional diet tailored to their specific needs, ensuring their health and well-being."
It is the diet of spoonbills, which consists of tiny crustaceans and fish, that gives them their trademark pink color, said the zoo, much like flamingos.
The zoo says both little blue herons and roseate spoonbills are wading birds and are native to wetland areas.
Central Texans are invited to celebrate the arrival of the new hatchlings by visiting the Cameron Park Zoo and supporting its ongoing conservation efforts.
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