African Sacred Ibis

The African Sacred Ibis is native to sub-Saharan Africa and parts of the Middle East. It also has introduced wild populations in Europe, Asia, and the Canary Islands. Sacred Ibis have a long history with humans in the Middle East where they played a role in ancient Egyptian religion as the head of the god, Thoth. Depictions of the ibis-headed Thoth are commonly found in hieroglyphs on and in the great pyramids. It is estimated that close to 8 million ibis had been mummified and entombed there. Perhaps that is the reason these Ibis are not found in Egypt any longer even though they are common in other parts of Africa and abroad. These birds typically inhabit wetlands, marshes, lakes, and rivers, where they forage for food such as small fish, crustaceans, insects, and amphibians. The sacred ibis is known for its social behavior, often seen in flocks that work cooperatively in hunting, roosting and nesting. In a large aviary, they will coexist well with other birds. Its cultural significance, striking appearance, and adaptable nature have made it an important ambassador for both historical and ecological contexts.