Northern bald ibis

Geronticus eremita

The northern bald ibis had been extinct in Switzerland for around 400 years before it successfully bred in its natural habitat again for the first time in 2023.

Red List

Endangered

Breeding programme

The northern bald ibis became extinct in Switzerland in the 17th century. Apparently, the birds were popular game and were eaten, as the Zurich naturalist Conrad Gessner wrote in 1557. Later, the last northern bald ibises were shot so that they could be stuffed as trophies and for natural history museums.

Reintroduction projects are now under way to reintroduce the black birds into the wild. Zoo Zurich has also provided young birds for these projects.

The northern bald ibis belongs to the ibis family. These birds have long, curved beaks. Most species live near bodies of water. They use their beaks to probe the mud and soil there in search of invertebrates and small tadpoles.