Oriental white stork at Paignton Zoo, Devon
Class: Birds
Order: Ciconiiformes
Family: Ciconiidae
Order: Ciconiiformes
Family: Ciconiidae
Paignton Zoo is home to a pair of oriental white storks – the only individuals of this rare species in a UK zoo!
These storks are native to wetland areas of small parts in Japan, southeast China and Siberia in Russia.
Their diet consists mainly of frogs, fish, insects, rodents and small reptiles.
Conservation
Due to overhunting and habitat loss in their native range, this beautiful species is currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
The oriental white storks at the zoo are involved in the EAZA ex-situ breeding programme (EEP) across zoological collections.