Greylag goose
(Anser anser)
Facts
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IUCN LEAST CONCERN (LC)
Facts about this animal
The greylag goose is a large goose with a body-weight in males of about 3.5 to 3.8 kg, in females about 2.7 to 3.1 kg.
Nests may be fairly concentrated. The female lays 5-6 white eggs and incubates them for 28-29 days.
Greylag geese consume a wide variety of food, mainly plant material they forage on land, such as grass, roots, leaves, stems, seed-heads, and sprouts of different plants, in winter complemented with agricultural crops.
Did you know?
that the greylag goose has been domesticated in Europe about 3,500 years ago? Today, the global population of domestic geese counts 220 million birds. Depending of the breed they may reach a body-weight of up to 12 kgs.
| Factsheet | |
|---|---|
| Class | AVES |
| Order | ANSERIFORMES |
| Suborder | ANSERES |
| Family | ANATIDAE |
| Name (Scientific) | Anser anser |
| Name (English) | Greylag goose |
| Name (French) | Oie cendrée |
| Name (German) | Graugans |
| Name (Spanish) | Ansar común |
| Local names | Czech: Husa velká Dutch: Grauwe gans Estonian: Hallhani, Roohani Finnish: Merihanhi Greek: Stachtóchina Hungarian: Nyári lud Italian: Oca selvatica Polish: Gegawa Portugiese: Ganso-comum Romansh: Uca grischa Swedish: Grågås |
| CITES Status | Not listed |
| CMS Status | Appendix II (as Anatidae spp.) Included in AEWA |
Photo Copyright by
Matthias Zepper
Distribution
| Distribution | |
|---|---|
| Range | Anser a. anser: Breeding range is Europe east to the Caucasus, winters in Europe, North Africa, Turkey, Iraq and Iran. Anser a. rubirostris Breeding range is central and eastern Russia, Mongolia and Northern China, winters in the Near and Middle East, and Indochina. |
| Habitat | During the breeding season greylag geese live in lowland wetlands or offshore islands. Outside of the breeding season they spend time in fresh-and salt-water marshes, estuaries, pastures and cultivated fields. |
| Wild population | Global population estimated to be between 920,000 and970,000 individuals by Wetlands International (2002). |
| Zoo population | 551 reported to ISIS (2006) |
In the Zoo
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How this animal should be transported
For air transport, Container Note 17 of the IATA Live Animals Regulations should be followed.
Find this animal on ZooLex
Photo Copyright by
Karrackoo
Why do zoos keep this animal
The greylag goose is not threatened in the wild, and zoos keep it primarily for educational reasons, because it is the ancestor of the domestic goose. Outside the breeding season, greylag geese may be kept in walk-thru exhibits allowing for close encounters and are thus a good ambassador species for wetland conservation.