19 more Russian Great Bustards now in the UK

17/08/2009 12:16:21

Latest batch of Great Bustards arrived from Russia
August 2009. After the fantastic news that the first Great bustard chicks had hatched in the UK for 177 years, Great Bustard Group (GBG) Director David Waters has just returned from Russia with nineteen Great Bustards which are currently in quarantine at the GBG's Wiltshire quarantine unit.

David Waters talks about his recent trip to Russia.

"The paper chase in Russia was more fraught than usual with several documents only appearing with hours to spare, or minutes in one case. I am sure I will have aged considerably over the last week, but the import was successful."

"The journey for the birds is a long one, as it is for me. The birds are carried in custom made crates which conform to all the air freight regulations. These are used only once and we must burn them once the birds are in the quarantine unit. The drive from the field station to Moscow is usually started at 3pm and continues non stop throughout the night to reach Moscow Domodedovo airport at about 7am. This allows time for the birds to be fed before going onto the next stage of paperwork and permissions which takes us through to 3pm, with the birds being loaded onto the plane at about 4.30pm for a 5.10 take off."

Heathrow arrival
"Once at Heathrow the excellent staff of James Cargo and the London Animal Reception Centre finish the paperwork and the birds are inside the GBG quarantine unit before midnight.

They now have to complete a series of veterinary inspections before the 30 days of quarantine is over."

How to visit the Great Bustards in Wiltshire 

The tours cost £10 and MUST be booked in advance. More about the Great Bustard Project.

All photographs copyright David Waters/GBG 2009