EEP Crowned pigeon number 4

EEP STUDBOOK CROWNED PIGEONS SUMMARIES
1.1 Summary of this Studbook
The First crowned pigeon EEP studbook was published in 1988, the second in 1989 and the
third in 1994. Most of the animals included in the EEP are also registered in the international
crowned pigeon studbook, kept by David Wetzel. A species committee for this EEP has been
selected, and a committee meeting was held in 1997. Developments in the EEP have been
reported annually in the EEP yearbooks, published by the EEP Executive Office in
Amsterdam.
At the moment a husbandry guideline is in preparation. This is necessary, because this might
contribute improve the reproduction, which is a priority in the EEP goals. Although the
cooperation within the EEP is improving, more effective exchange of birds has to be
improved, according to the EEP guidelines. This means less attention has to be paid to the
monetary value of the animals and more emphasis should be given to establish breeding pairs.
Participants are encouraged to cooperate providing the information needed to develop
husbandry guidelines and continually assess the status of animals and problems in the EEP.
Accurate accounting of reproductive activities to the EEP coordinator is an important medium
of providing the needed information.
Summarized, the number of institutions participating in the crowned pigeon EEP has
increased in the past few years. 53 institutes in 1994 and 58 institutes in 1999. The number of
birds has also increased during the past few years. 50 Goura cristatas are born between 1995
and 1999, 43 died. 52 Goura scheepmakeri are born between 1995 and 1999, 37 died. 78
Goura victorias are born between 1995 and 1999, 54 died.
In 1997, a research project was carried out in Papua New Guinea by Marc Damen, who is
now working at “Burgers’ Zoo”, Arnhem (The Netherlands), to study the ecology of crowned
pigeons in the wild. He also sampled some crop and stomach contents from crowned pigeons
for analysing. His article summarises and compares the results of both investigations and can
be found in this studbook.
Hopefully the information included in this studbook will be of value to all of the crowned
pigeon EEP participants, as without their contributions there would be no studbook and no
program. The cooperation of all participants is highly appreciated, and we look forward to
future efforts in ensuring together the survival of crowned pigeons in European collections for
the generations to come.
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