**VIDEO AVAILABLE: CONTACT INFO@COVERMG.COM TO RECEIVE** Pinkness is the order of the day at Paignton Zoo after keepers successfully hand-rearing a rare pink pigeon squab for the first time. Pink pigeons, which are native to Mauritius, are listed as endangered by both the IUCN and BirdLife. Once on the brink of extinction, their numbers in the wild were estimated to have dropped to as few as nine in 1991. However, thanks to conservation efforts by experts like Paignton Zoo’s keeper Tom Tooley and his colleagues, the species has seen a gradual recovery. Tom, who has worked as a bird keeper at the zoo for over 27 years, pioneered a new method for hand-rearing young pigeons, or squabs, that have been abandoned by their parents. Over the years, he has trained others in his unique technique. Explaining his approach, Tom said, “Instead of using conventional crop tubing, I developed a method which involves attaching a carefully sized catheter to a syringe, gently placed on the squab’s tongue. This allows the squabs to consume the hand-rearing formula naturally, eliminating the stress and potential harm associated with crop tubing.” The pink pigeon is part of a European Endangered Species Programme (EEP), designed to maintain healthy captive populations and support genetic diversity. Through collaboration among zoos and organisations, such as the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation (MWF), the programme aims to ensure the long-term survival of threatened species. The MWF, Mauritius’s largest NGO dedicated to protecting its native species, has benefited from Tom’s expertise since 2014, when he was first invited to train its staff in his hand-rearing technique. He has returned several times since, with another trip planned for early November. Stephen Kings, Chief Executive of Wild Planet Trust, commented: “It’s been a fantastic year for our bird breeding programmes. Tom’s skilled approach to hand-rearing this squab, along with the collaborative efforts of our dedicated bird team, is yet another testament to our zoo-based expertise in wildlife conservation.” Paignton Zoo has seen other bird breeding successes in 2024. This summer’s “Love Lagoon” flamingo programme resulted in several healthy chicks, including one raised by a same-sex pair, and in April, the zoo celebrated the successful fledging of a Socorro dove, a species extinct in the wild. Where: Paignton, Devon, United Kingdom When: 07 Nov 2024 Credit: Paignton Zoo/Cover Images **EDITORIAL USE ONLY. MATERIALS ONLY TO BE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH EDITORIAL STORY. THE USE OF THESE MATERIALS FOR ADVERTISING, MARKETING OR ANY OTHER COMMERCIAL PURPOSE IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED. MATERIAL COPYRIGHT REMAINS WITH STATED SUPPLIER.**