The Research
The official title of this project is the Preliminary studies into the intestinal bacterial flora of Wild Toucans.

"AND NOW THE FOR THE SCIENCE BIT"
The bacterial flora of any animal is at least partly determined by the type of diet consumed and prevalence of non-invasive bacterial species. It is very likely that gram-positive organisms dominate the intestinal flora of Wild Toucans but we would like to establish that beyond doubt. When the birds are taking meat protein (rearing) the ratio may change as meat-based diets lead to a gram-negative dominated intestinal flora. As toucans become inevitably become rarer, the relevance of captive breeding may become more important in the coming years. However captive toucans frequently suffer from acute gram – negative infections arising in the intestinal tract, and such episodes often prove to be fatal. (At present research shows that gram negative infections in captive birds is the single most predominant cause of death. Statistics show that in 3 taxonomic groups Ramphastidae, Bucerotidae, Musophagidae bacterial disease emerged as causing 78% (229/295) of the total deaths recorded in the survey).

In order to be able to manage these species in captivity more effectively this problem must be overcome. An understanding of the types of bacteria normally resident in the intestines of Wild Toucans may allow selection of more appropriate captive diets and perhaps preparation of suitable probiotics designed to deter the overwhelming growth of gram-negative in the gut of captive birds.

The explanation of the science bit
We did a survey of captive birds and found that the highest rate of death was by a gram negative bacterial infection. We now have a “normal” bacterial rate for captive birds but don’t have anything to compare it to. We don’t even know if it happens in wild birds. The proposal is to go and collect poo samples from different places that the Toucans live and build up a “normal” bacterial level for wild Toucans and compare the two. We then will be able to look at the diets that captive birds are fed on and alter it accordingly. We may also be able to make a probiotic to give to Toucans in captivity that will help (kind of like yackult or actimel for birds).

Objectives
• To assess the ratio of gram-negative: gram positive bacteria
• normally resident in the intestinal tract of the Wild Toucans.
• To observe behaviours of wild toucans that may be compared
• to what is known behaviour in Toucans in captivity.

We are now also researching the composition of the UK captive Toucans diets. A questionnaire was sent out and all the data compiled so we know what every bird in the UK is being fed. From that using Zootrition software we can then start to build up a picture of if we are feeding these birds too higher a sugar diet and what they are lacking in.

We are also just starting the European equivalent to this. This research into the diets will not only help Toucans but also a lot of other fruit eating species that have similar problems like Touracos.

We also have a project that would be suitable for a MSc student if anyone is interested please get in touch.