Two tiny, rare chicks have hatched at the San Antonio Zoo, marking a big conservation win for one of the world’s most endangered birds.
SAN ANTONIO — There are two adorable new additions at the San Antonio Zoo and they’re helping protect one of the world’s rarest birds.
The zoo announced the successful hatching of two Congo peafowl chicks, a species native only to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and rarely seen in zoos. While they’re related to peacocks, Congo peafowl are smaller, about the size of a chicken, and are known for their striking colors and rainforest roots.
The species is currently listed as Near Threatened, with habitat loss and hunting contributing to its decline in the wild. That makes each hatch an important milestone for conservation.
“These Congo peafowl chicks represent an important step forward for a species that is rarely seen and found only in one part of the world,” said Tim Morrow, President and CEO of the zoo.
San Antonio Zoo has cared for Congo peafowl since 1989 and has hatched 67 chicks over the decades. Since restarting its breeding success in 2024, the zoo has welcomed 14 new chicks, more than all other U.S. zoos combined during that same period.
The newest chicks are being cared for by the zoo’s Aviculture team in a specialized facility called The Nest, while guests can visit the parents in Bird Alley and may even spot older chicks in the F.C. Hixon Birdhouse.
Zoo officials say these tiny hatchlings are a big step toward securing a future for wildlife, and they’re already stealing hearts in San Antonio.