EEP Crowned pigeon number 4

EEP STUDBOOK CROWNED PIGEONS INTRODUCTION
2.1 Introduction
Herewith we proudly present the fourth edition of the EEP Studbook for crowned pigeons
(Goura species). The EEP for crowned pigeons started 1987 and in the past 12 years the
number of crowned pigeons registered in the program has increased substantially.
Unfortunately this is not due to natural growth, but to legal imports and confiscation.
In the wild crowned pigeons are disappearing rapidly. The famous ornithologist Bruce
Beehler, who conducted a lot of studies in New Guinea, wrote about crowned pigeons:
“The populations of crowned pigeons are quickly eliminated by hunters from any forest
within a days walk of some village. For Papua New Guinea, at least, most forest tracts lie
within a day’s walk of some village; thus the two species of crowned pigeons that inhabit
Papua New Guinea are under threat.
At this time it is critical that we initiate studies of the crowned pigeons for at least two
reasons. First, we need to learn something about this genus, one of the more remarkable
evolutionary products of the long isolation of New Guinea’s tropical humid forest.
Second, we must learn something about the Goura in the wild in order to develop a strategy
for its long-term protection” (Beehler, 1991).
Zoos and birdparks can contribute considerably to improve the knowledge about these
magnificent pigeons. This knowledge can be used by field workers to work more efficiently.
On the contrary, field workers can, with the results of in situ studies, help institutions ex situ
to improve the housing conditions in order to stimulate reproduction. In this way birdparks
and zoos will be more better capable to build up a sustainable population which might be used
(if necessary) to reintroduce birds into their natural habitat. Secondly, crowned pigeons can be
used as a ‘flagship-species’ to impress the visitors with the fauna of New Guinea, which is a
tool to protect New Guinea’s flora and fauna.
This fourth edition of the EEP Studbook contains both data from the wild as well as from
European institutions. First of all the current status of the three species of crowned pigeons is
described. For each species attention is paid to the development of the EEP-population
(births, deaths and transfers), the current EEP-population, founder representation and age
distribution. The research chapter mainly focuses on research carried out in Papua New
Guinea. Also a contribution to the discussion, whether crowned pigeons are species or subspecies,
is published. Recently a time budget analysis of crowned pigeons kept under different
housing conditions was carried out. This can be found in the research chapter, also with the
information of longevity. The final chapter lists all publications of crowned pigeons and a lot
of articles on their natural habitat.
We sincerely hope this Studbook will contribute to the welfare of crowned pigeons, first in
captivity and maybe later on also in the wild. We would like to thank all institutions and
persons who contributed to this studbook, by submitting data or by giving comments on the
third edition of the studbook or the draft edition of this studbook. Finally we would like to
thank Rotterdam Zoo by giving financial support. We hope the birds will benefit from this.
Ing. Joeke Nijboer (EEP Coordinator for crowned pigeons) & Marc Damen
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