World’s rarest ducklings hatch at Prague Zoo
Prague Zoo has made history as the first in Europe, and second in the world to hatch critically endangered Brazilian merganser ducklings. Once thought extinct, in the mid-20th century, this rare species remains critically endangered, with only around 250 individuals in the wild. I spoke with the zoo’s spokesman Filip Mašek about this remarkable achievement and its significance for the species' future.
First of all, when exactly did the ducklings hatch, and why did Prague Zoo wait before announcing it?
“So the first ducklings hatched at the end of January, on the 29th of January, when we welcomed the first-ever Brazilian merganser hatched in Europe. We waited for some time because you never know if the baby will survive, especially when it comes to hatching a very rare and critically endangered bird. There are no breeding experiences with this species across all of Europe, so that's why we waited until we were sure that they were thriving.”
What were the key steps in successfully hatching these rare ducklings?
“We actually obtained five pairs of these birds, so in total, 10 individuals, in 2023. In 2024, we presented one of these pairs—a male and a female—in the exposition area. The exposition area is the exhibit section of the zoo.
“Later in the year, we provided all of these pairs with a special box with a nest, hoping this would inspire them to breed. And it worked. One of the pairs started visiting the nest, and they laid their eggs later in the year.”
Can you tell us a bit more about the Brazilian merganser and why it's considered one of the rarest duck species?
“The Brazilian merganser is actually the only merganser that lives in the southern hemisphere. Mergansers are species of ducks that eat fish, so they are actually hunters. That’s why they look a bit different from the ducks we know. The main thing that differentiates them is their beak.
“The Brazilian merganser only survives in Brazil. The population is currently estimated at about 250 individuals in the wild, which makes them critically endangered. There was a time in the 20th century when they were thought to be extinct. So it is, without hesitation, the rarest duck species in the world.
“At the Prague Zoo, we’ve provided financial support to Presa do Futuro, a non-profit organization in Brazil that helps them survive, as well as to the Zoo Park Itatiba, which is the only zoo where they breed them in Brazil. We’ve provided funding for them, and we’ve also bought them a boat to help them monitor and track the mergansers better in the wild. That’s why we obtained the five pairs of birds in the first place, as well as because of our experienced breeders.”
What's next for these ducklings? How will they be raised, and when will they be introduced to the public?
“Now we are preparing the whole zoo for the spring or summer season, of course. These Brazilian mergansers really like the heat, so it was impossible to let them out during the colder weather. But now, with spring starting to show, we will probably present the ducklings, together with their parents, during the Easter weekend. On Good Friday, we should have some sort of event to introduce them to the public, if the weather permits.”
And finally, do you regard the hatching of these ducklings as a sign of hope for the future of this rare species?
“The hatching of these ducklings is definitely a sign of hope for the future of this species because the breeding experience we now have at Prague Zoo can be very useful for other zoological institutions in Europe.
“In the future, we may even be able to send our offspring to these other facilities, along with the knowledge we’ve gained. In the worst-case scenario, if they go extinct in the wild, we will have this population in Europe, which could serve as the last resort and the last hope for the species. So, it’s definitely great news and one of the greatest breeding successes in the history of Prague Zoo.”
