Taipei Zoo's Red-Crowned Cranes Successfully Hatch Chick After 4 Years; Visitors Urged to Observe Quietly
Taipei Zoo announced the successful hatching of a red-crowned crane chick by parents KIKA and BIG after four years. Visitors are advised to stay quiet to avoid alarming the protective parents.
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- 📰 Published: April 23, 2026 at 13:04
- 🔍 Collected: April 23, 2026 at 13:31 (27 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 23, 2026 at 16:21 (2h 49m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(CNA Reporter Chen Yu-ting, Taipei, 23rd) Taipei Zoo announced good news today: Red-crowned cranes KIKA and BIG have successfully hatched a baby after a 4-year wait. Currently, mother KIKA is inseparable from the chick, while father BIG is strictly guarding them. The public is reminded to remain quiet while observing.
KIKA and BIG arrived in Taiwan from the Kushiro Zoo in Hokkaido, Japan, in 2011. After 11 years of effort, they successfully hatched a chick named "Lihe" in 2022.
Taipei Zoo issued a press release today stating that after "Lihe" was born, KIKA and BIG continued to lay eggs every year, but they were all unfertilized. It wasn't until mid-March this year that zookeepers discovered an egg in the grass. Upon inspection, it was confirmed to be a fertilized egg. Artificial incubation was initiated, and the egg was returned to KIKA two days before the expected hatching date. The chick was finally born on April 20.
The zoo noted that this is the second time 20-year-old KIKA and 23-year-old BIG are raising a chick. Despite the four-year gap, they are not out of practice. Whenever BIG sees someone approaching, he vocalizes or uses his long beak to drive them away. Keepers even have to wear protective gear when entering for work or feeding to avoid unprovoked attacks. KIKA handles the feeding duties and is inseparable from the chick.
The zoo reminds visitors that to avoid disturbing KIKA and BIG while they raise their young, please keep quiet and do not hit the railings or get too close. Doing so will only make KIKA hide the baby further away, and BIG will interpret it as an intrusion and exhibit aggressive behavior, which could easily result in injury to the chick. It is recommended to look from afar using binoculars from the Amphibian and Reptile House for the best chance to see the baby. (Editor: Chen Qing-fang) 1150423
(CNA Reporter Chen Yu-ting, Taipei, 23rd) Taipei Zoo announced good news today: Red-crowned cranes KIKA and BIG have successfully hatched a baby after a 4-year wait. Currently, mother KIKA is inseparable from the chick, while father BIG is strictly guarding them. The public is reminded to remain quiet while observing.
KIKA and BIG arrived in Taiwan from the Kushiro Zoo in Hokkaido, Japan, in 2011. After 11 years of effort, they successfully hatched a chick named "Lihe" in 2022.
Taipei Zoo issued a press release today stating that after "Lihe" was born, KIKA and BIG continued to lay eggs every year, but they were all unfertilized. It wasn't until mid-March this year that zookeepers discovered an egg in the grass. Upon inspection, it was confirmed to be a fertilized egg. Artificial incubation was initiated, and the egg was returned to KIKA two days before the expected hatching date. The chick was finally born on April 20.
The zoo noted that this is the second time 20-year-old KIKA and 23-year-old BIG are raising a chick. Despite the four-year gap, they are not out of practice. Whenever BIG sees someone approaching, he vocalizes or uses his long beak to drive them away. Keepers even have to wear protective gear when entering for work or feeding to avoid unprovoked attacks. KIKA handles the feeding duties and is inseparable from the chick.
The zoo reminds visitors that to avoid disturbing KIKA and BIG while they raise their young, please keep quiet and do not hit the railings or get too close. Doing so will only make KIKA hide the baby further away, and BIG will interpret it as an intrusion and exhibit aggressive behavior, which could easily result in injury to the chick. It is recommended to look from afar using binoculars from the Amphibian and Reptile House for the best chance to see the baby. (Editor: Chen Qing-fang) 1150423