Mandarin duck

Mandarin duck

Scientific name: Aix galericulata
In the wild: common in Eastern Asia
Jerusalem zoo: Individuals in the marsh aviary
In the Bible: the Duck does not appear in the Bible.
The Mandarin duck lives in the forests of China and Japan. The male has very a strong and distinct coloration. It prefers wooded ponds and fast flowing streams to swim and feed in. A male and female can couple and live together for many seasons, but they are not monogamous for life. Together, they look for a good site to build a nest; usually a hole in a tree up to10 meters from the ground. The female lays 9 to 12 eggs which are white and oval. Only the female incubates the eggs. The Mandarin eats water plants, rice and other grains. The mandarin duck is a symbol of happiness in China and Japan. Destruction of forests to build new settlements in China has caused a severe blow to the Mandarin duck's population. It is estimated that only 20,000 Mandarin ducks live naturally in China. The fact that these ducks have a terrible taste means that they are not hunted for food, a fact that has saved these species from extinction, leaving habitat destruction to be its main threat today.

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