Mauritius Kestrel, Chester Zoo, 2006

The only ones in Captivity, well, some of the last few, anyway Outside Mauritius.

It's a shame they never bred very well at Chester.

Of the species I've seen myself that have since been lost from ex-situ populations, this is the one that bothers me the most.

I distinctly recall seeing these as a kid and reading about how they were once the rarest bird in the world; and the feeling of amazement learning about their story. Probably a formative moment that led me towards working in conservation.