Milky Stork

(Mycteria cinerea)


Facts

Milky Stork IUCN VULNERABLE (VU)

 

Facts about this animal

The total length of the Milky Stork is about 86 cm. It is a very large bird, with creamy white body and black feathers on the wings. The bill is yellowish orange with a black patch at the base. The legs are pinkish. The bill becomes brighter orange in colour in the breeding season; the facial skin and the legs turn red.

Did you know?
that the milky stork has a small, declining population owing to loss of coastal habitat, hunting and trade? These factors are predicted to cause rapid declines in the near future.


 

Factsheet
Class AVES
Order CICONIIFORMES
Suborder CICONIAE
Family CICONIIDAE
Name (Scientific) Mycteria cinerea
Name (English) Milky Stork
Name (French) Tantale blanc
Name (German) Milchstorch
Name (Spanish) Tántalo Malayo
Local names Bahasa: Bluwok (blue-walk)
Malay: Buring upeh
CITES Status Appendix I
CMS Status Not listed

 

 

Photo Copyright by
Christian Bier

Distribution

 


Distribution
Range Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia
Habitat Lowlands, salt water marshes and mangrove swamps
Wild population Approx. 5,000 or fewer (Red List IUCN 2011)
Zoo population 118 reported to ISIS (2005)

In the Zoo

Milky Stork

 

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
Doug Janson

Why do zoos keep this animal

This is a vulnerable species with rapidly declining populations. Maintaining a viable ex situ insurance population is therefore of conservation interest. Zoo-bred birds may eventually become available for reintroduction projects in places where there is a chance that a re-established population could survive.