title: Management, breeding, and health records from a captive colony of pekin robins (Leiothrix lutea), 2001 - 2010.
abstract: Pekin robins (Leiothrix lutea) were once the most widely kept softbills in captivity. As a result of the Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES-1997), the worldwide trade of wild-caught pekin robins has been prohibited due to the depletion of native populations of this species. In Brazil, as in other countries, pekin robins imported prior to the enactment of the CITES have disappeared from aviaries because the end of the birds' natural life span has passed, and only very few captive-bred pekin robins now exist. While captive propagation fails to address the primary causes of wild bird population decline, it might help the recovery of populations of this species. This article presents records made over a 10-yr period of a captive colony of pekin robins. Emphasis is placed on the management of the flock, the ailments affecting the birds, and the findings associated with bird losses. The main causes of bird losses included rearing management failures and age-related disorders.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patologia Clínica, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Avenida Bento Gonçalves 9090, Agronomia 91540-000, Porto Alegre-RS, Brasil. vetcruz@terra.com.br
authors.forename: Cláudio E F
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: da Cruz
authors.forename: Luiz G S
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.forename: Fabiana M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Boabaid
authors.forename: Francielli C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Zimermann
authors.forename: Gisele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.forename: Fernanda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marks
authors.forename: Cristine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cerva
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lieberknecht
authors.forename: Claudio W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Canal
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Driemeier
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D001947:Breeding; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D046109:Passeriformes / Q000502:physiology*; D012098:Reproduction