PHILIPPINES: MANILA: BREEDING CENTRE FOR TROPICAL BIRDS PROFILE

English/Nat What started as a hobby for a Filipino animal lover, has now grown into one of the world's most important breeding centres for tropical birds. Antonio de Dios' private aviary in the Philippines boasts a collection of more than eight thousand birds from 195 rare species. These brightly coloured macaws are among the roughly eight-thousand birds found here in Birds International, a private aviary in the suburbs of Quezon City. What started out as a hobby for owner Antonio de Dios is now a world-class facility dedicated to the preservation of endangered birds. For two decades, the aviary has been committed to saving the world's endangered bird species. For owner Antonio de Dios its a dream come true. SOUNDBITE: (English) "It's my obsession since I was young, to be associated with animals. And the parrot became my choice because of their longevity. They can live for quite a number of years, and maybe they can outlive me." SUPER CAPTION: Antonio de Dios, President and General Manager, Birds International, Inc. A nursery puts newly-hatched chicks in the care of experts who make sure they get proper nutrition and attention. The aviary has successfully bred many species of rare birds, may of which end up in zoos around the world. There are about two thousand breeding pairs here, with an average production of two thousand 500 birds a year. SOUNDBITE: (English) "I think we are blessed because we have the right tropical weather. We don't have to undergo very complicated set-ups like the ones they have in America and in Europe. And of course, labour is cheap here, and we have all the tropical fruit available. I think with these conditions, it's a very big plus factor in propagating the species." SUPER CAPTION: Antonio de Dios, President and General Manager, Birds International, Inc. The birds are housed in large flight cages which allow them to interact socially with their own kind. The aviary strives to provide an environment that mirrors the natural habitat of the birds. Staff say simulating these conditions ensures normal growth and improved breeding performance. A staff of 167 sees to it that all the birds get the proper care. Such an aviary is expensive to run but de Dios says money is no object. Birds International has come a long way. Its efforts and success in saving rare birds from extinction is proof that such things can be done if people work with the environment. The aviary's objective of conserving and protecting rare birds by successfully breeding them in captivity has been achieved. But this does not stop de Dios and his staff from continuing their research in the proper handling of these birds. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/bd9c8182ffb2e5084ccab039c7cba7c6 Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork