In a remarkable turnaround for London's St James's Park, a pair of great white pelicans has successfully bred, marking the first time in over 360 years that these birds have reproduced within the park's walls. The achievement is all the more astonishing given that previous generations of pelicans never managed to raise their young despite being resident in the park since 1664.
The four chicks emerged on 17 May, with all surviving their crucial first month – a feat that has left Mark Wasilewski, Royal Parks manager, stunned. The adult population comprises six great white pelicans: two males named Sun and Moon, and four females known as Star, Isla, Tiffany, and Gargi.
Five eggs were laid across three nests, with eight-year-old Star and 30-year-old Gargi sharing incubation duties on one nest. The exact parentage of the chicks remains unclear, although it's confirmed one of the two males fathered them. Gargi has been a permanent resident since 1996, after being found in a Southend garden.
The successful breeding follows an avian flu outbreak earlier this year, which forced the pelicans onto Duck Island within the park. Their release back into the main area on 9 April coincided with staff observing them building nests just four days later – suggesting the isolation provided the perfect environment for courtship and breeding.
Now, the rapidly growing chicks are developing a soft, chestnut-brown down after initially emerging featherless and 'dinosaur-like'. Wildlife officers are closely monitoring their progress, working alongside experts from Blackpool Zoo, the Royal Veterinary College, the Zoological Society of London, and the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust to ensure optimal care.
Visitors to St James's Park are being asked to keep a respectful distance to avoid disturbing the vulnerable chicks as they begin to waddle around their nests. The young birds will take to the water with their parents at around 12 weeks old, marking a significant milestone in this remarkable breeding event.