A quirky bird.
The Northern Bald Ibis is our ambassador of nature and, admittedly, a somewhat rugged beauty.
GANTER supports the "Hoffnung" (Reason for Hope) project for the reintroduction of the Northern Bald Ibis
For more than 300 years, the Northern Bald Ibis was extinct in Europe. Many who saw it in old paintings considered it to be a mythical creature. Today, the Northern Bald Ibis is one of the most endangered migratory bird species in the world. A true rarity. To change this, Northern Bald Ibises are being reintroduced to Central Europe as part of one of the largest European conservation projects.
"Quirky" and sociable birds
Northern Bald Ibises are very sociable birds. When Northern Bald Ibis partners greet each other, it regularly triggers a greeting ritual throughout the entire colony.
Popular and esteemed
In ancient Egypt, the Northern Bald Ibis was considered a bringer of light and embodiment of the human spirit. The form of the Northern Bald Ibis even found its way into hieroglyphic writing.
Translated from ancient Egyptian, it roughly means "to shine", "to gleam", "spirit", "ancestor spirit", "spirit soul".
In Islam, the Northern Bald Ibis is considered a symbol of good luck, believed to have guided Noah from Mount Ararat to the fertile valley of the Euphrates after the flood. In the 17th century, Northern Bald Ibises were protected in the Orient because various nomadic tribes believed that their iridescent plumage carried the souls of the deceased.
In Europe, Northern Bald Ibises were highly sought after as delicacies and ornithological treasures for zoos and natural history museums. Eventually, the Northern Bald Ibis disappeared completely from the wild in Europe, leading people to consider it merely a mythical creature.
One of the largest European conservation projects
As part of an EU project (LIFE+ Biodiversity) with partners from Austria, Italy, and Germany, the Northern Bald Ibis is being reintroduced in Europe. The Northern Bald Ibis project is the first scientifically supported attempt to reintroduce an extinct migratory bird species. A successful project outcome could serve as a model for the conservation and reintroduction of other threatened migratory bird species.
Further information about the "Reason for Hope" project can be found here: www.waldrapp.eu