The Toucan – A mystical bird.

Some very concerned and very sympathetic people at our local “Las Lajas” restaurant here in Nuevo Arenal, Costa Rica drove up to my home.

They were carefully cradling a beautiful Chestnut Mandibled Tucan, one of the two species of tucans here in Costa Rica. I get such seriously injured animals I mentally began to brace myself for whatever medical challenge I may be facing. With saddened faces, they told me he was critically injured and had a very infected wound.

I was on my way out to an appointment and was already late so I gave the bird a quick exam, but didn’t see anything that needed immediate attention. I then put him in a small holding cage to temporarily restrain his movements in case of a fracture. Then, carefully covered the cage to darken it to calm the bird until I returned home. This always works well on diurnal birds because they think it is night and go to sleep. In effect, it puts them on ice until I can deal with their problem.

On returning home, I found the bird standing erect and very calm showing no stress at all. So, not knowing when he had his last meal, I cut some papaya and platano cubes “bite size” (for tucans) and quickly softened some pieces of dry dog food (tucans are omnivorous and so eat both fruits and whatever small ‘prey” they find in the forest. that is one of many reasons they should never be kept in captivity as pets. Meeting their dietary requirements is a challenge usually ending in malnourished tucans) and put in the cage with him.

He graciously began to eat with gusto, offering his “compliments to the chef”. Experience has taught his problem could not be serious or he would not be eating. After awhile, I could see he was behaving normally and so decided he could possibly be put into an outdoor cage suitable for a bird of his size. This also gave me another chance for a closer exam. I found by simply placing a towel over his head and holding on to his beak, he relaxed very well for me to move each feather for a thorough body check.

He checked out perfectly healthy and in good body weight. I could see a very faint scratch under his right eye and possibly two flight feathers scuffed on the right side. I then decided he most probably had flown into a window or other object and had sustained minor wounds and maybe a day or two of rest and he could head back to be with his friends.

He stayed a day and a night and by the following day he was moving very normally and eating quite well. He was quite “mannerly” and remained very calm and “respectful” if I respected his “space” and only tried to nip me if I tried to touch him. Otherwise, we simply observed each other; him cocking his inquisitive and noble head as I moved around the cage.

The following morning as I was replacing some food in his cage, he swooped out past me and into a nearby tree. He sat there as we gazed at each other, again cocking his head back and forth as I was speaking softly to him. I had not intended on releasing him that soon and I had planned on returning him to his capture site to be in familiar territory with his friends. But his early departure left me no choice because he was quickly out of reach.

He sat for a minute looking at me and then, skyward as though he was trying to decide if the food and accommodations were better in the “rehab hotel” or out in the forest. In a brief moment, he made his way to the top of the canopy and began calling his friends and with very mixed feelings, I bid farewell and good luck to a beautiful and mystical bird.

Later, I commented to my husband, that the tucan had been a model patient: he had come in healthy, with no major medical challenges, was a polite visitor who permitted me to examine him and, did not complained about the food, and left when he was well and left me with a wonderful photo opportunity.

If only my other cases ended so happily! But it is the “happily ever after” ones that are the life blood that keep us going!

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Written by Gloria Dempsey. Zoologist in Arenal, Costa Rica. February 2008

If you would to contribute to the rescue and care of wildlife in Costa Rica, please send US cashier’s cheques to our Zoologist friend in Arenal Gloria Dempsey:

Gloria Dempsey
5717-28 Nuevo Arenal – Tilaran
Guanacaste, Costa Rica.

Or you can email Gloria Dempsey here.

Andrew Makarik

to@welovecostarica.com

Andrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.