Some baby animals are born adorable. (Take pandas, for instance.)
Others, like the Bali mynah that hatched Thursday at Zoo Atlanta, come into this world looking like something out of “Jurassic Park.”
But as birds of this critically endangered species grow, they develop striking white feathers with black accents, a drooping crown and patches of bright-blue skin around each eye.
The Zoo has eight Bali mynahs, including the chick’s parents — who were recommended to pair by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Bali Mynah Species Survival Plan, and whose first chick hatched February 10 — and a second breeding pair who have also had two chicks.
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The young new chick hasn't yet been named or undergone genetic testing to determine the sex.
Bali mynahs are one of the most endangered species overall at Zoo Atlanta and its most endangered bird species, according to James Ballance, the Zoo’s curator of birds. Fewer than 100 are believed to remain on the island of Bali in Indonesia, and there may be as few as 20 birds in the wild.
Their status as a symbol of wealth and popularity within the pet trade has reduced their populations in the wild, according to the Zoo's website.
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