Skunk-like baby bird hand reared in first

The greater coucal's parents needed help so carers looked after the young — giving them the best chance of survival.

It is the first time this prehistoric-looking species has been hand-reared by a U.K. zoo.

The chick with its black body and crest of white feathers was named Skunk due to its resemblance to the black-and-white mammal.

It was cared for by staff at Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens in Oxfordshire at its dedicated incubation facility.

The newly hatched chick, with its big appetite, initially required feeding every two hours during the day.

Weighing just 10.9 grams at hatching, the chick has since grown rapidly and now weighs 240 grams, reaching the size of an adult in just over a month.

Two further eggs were laid by the parents and were also hand-reared by the team.

The chicks, named Badger and Bodger, have now outgrown their incubator and have joined their older sibling in an off-show aviary, still under the watchful eye of keepers.

Head keeper Natalie Horner, said; "The chicks hatch with the most amazing feather composition giving them a rather unique look.

"Their striking black-and-white coloring has certainly inspired their names and they really are some of the most memorable-looking chicks we've ever hand-reared."

The park is celebrating a hat trick of first-time breeding successes, with chicks recently welcomed from its blacksmith plovers, emerald doves (pictured left) and greater coucals.

Natalie said: "We've had a great bird breeding season this year including two clutches of Blacksmith Plover chicks.

"Three chicks in each clutch! They have all now fully fledged and moved into their own aviaries off show."

The park has shared never-before-seen footage capturing the moment the chicks made their first appearance.