We have finally unveiled Red-headed Wood Pigeon, a national natural monument! Japanese Wood Pigeon are birds that inhabit coastal areas south of central Honshu. Among them, Red-headed Wood Pigeon is a rare Japanese Wood Pigeon found only in the Ogasawara Islands.

Due to habitat deterioration caused by the proliferation of non-native plants, the impact of animals introduced by humans, and the reduction of tree seeds due to typhoons, their numbers have decreased, and in 2002, only about 10 birds were confirmed on Chichijima and about 20 on Hahajima.

In March 2001, Ueno Zoo took in three Red-headed Wood Pigeon (two males and one female) that had been captured on Chichijima Island, and successfully bred them in captivity. Because they could not be given the same food as on the island, they had to come up with various solutions. Currently, they are given pigeon-specific feed plus komatsuna (Japanese mustard spinach) and salt lick (which contains minerals such as calcium and iron).

The first chicks hatched in November 2002. Later, in April 2004, breeding was successfully achieved using a subspecies, Japanese Wood Pigeon, as foster parents. Furthermore, in August 2005, the third generation of chicks was born, with parents that were born at Ueno Zoo. Currently, the population has increased to 11 birds (5 males, 5 females, and 1 of unknown sex).

Red-headed Wood Pigeon is about 40 centimeters long. It is mostly black, but the top of its head is a dull reddish-brown, and its head, neck, and chest have a metallic sheen of purple or green.

The enclosure you'll find is the third cage in the pheasant enclosure, immediately to the right after entering through the main gate. There you'll find a male born on July 14, 2004, and a female born on May 19, 2004.

Further along from there, near Eurasian Otter and behind the raptor enclosure, there is a panel exhibition titled "Aiming for the Conservation and Propagation of Red-headed Wood Pigeon" (until March 31, 2006).

(October 14, 2005)