Great bustard returns after 150 years. The great bustard, a bird an large as a Turkey and one of the retest in Europe, is to be reintroduced into Britain as a breeding bird. Mr. Christopher Marler, who runs a private zoo at Weston Underwood, Bucks, has imported two male and four female great bustards from Portugal and the birds will be released on a leased 10-acre site on Salisbury plain in the spring. the site will be surrounded by an eight-foot wire fence, and it is hoped that the birds will nature and breed there withing three years. A great bustard Trust has been formed to run the project expected to cost about $10,000. Mr. Marler said that the birds which were imported five months ago have settled down well in his zoo, together with a seventh which landed on the Shetlands last winter. The great bustard once flourished on the chalk downs in the south as well as in East antis and Yorkshire, but was made extinct bu hunters about 150 years ago, The last recorded of its breeding in Britain was in Suffolk in 1832, since then it has only been a rare vagrant hare. Photo shows Great bustards at a private zoo at Weston Underwood, bucks, from where they are to moved in the spring to a reserve on Salisbury plain with the object of breeding them.
Photo measures 10.25 x 8 inches.
Photo is dated 12-12-1970.
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