Great Bustard reintroduced to UK

Feb. 29 The return of the great bustards. One of Europe's rarest birds, as large as a turkey, is to be reintroduced into Britain as a breeding bird. The only Bustards in the country are now at a private zoo at Weston Underwood, Bucks, and in the Spring they will be moved to a reserve on Salisbury Plain with the object of breeding them. Mr. Christopher Marler, owner of the zoo, has imported two male and four female great bustards from Portugal with the idea of setting up the breeding community. He hopes they will be self-perpetuating within three years. The site is to be surrounded by an 8 foot wide fence. The Great Bustard Trust has been formed at an expected cost of £10, 000. A seventh bird in the present situation was imported from the Shetlands last winter. The birds weigh 24 lbs up to 35 lbs and stand 40 inches high. Colours are vivid black and white and their strong legs give them a good turn of speed when in danger. They live on mice and grasshoppers, and once flourished in this country. They became extinct 150 years ago and were once considered valuable food worthy of royal banquets. An earlier and successful attempt to reintroduce the bird in England was made in 1900 in Norfolk

Restrictions Only for United Kingdom

10000 Banquets Breeding Bucks Bustard Considered Cost Earlier Expected Flourished Formed Grasshoppers Hopes Idea Imported Inches Marler Mice Moved Rarest Reintroduced Salisbury Seventh Shetlands Situation Underwood Valuable Vivid Weigh Weston Worthy

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