Cattle Egret
It renders considerable sanitary service thanks to its food
This little Cattle Egret, originating from the south of Europe and Africa, has experienced, in the last two centuries, a spectacular expansion throughout the world, colonizing Asia, America (after having therefore flown over the Atlantic Ocean!) and Australia.
The reason for this expansion is to be found in its lifestyle and in its food: it followed, originally, large wild mammals such as elephants, buffaloes, rhinos, antelopes, and so on, feeding not only on the insects disturbed by their passage, but also on the parasites of their coats and hides.
It then switched to animals domesticated by man, such as horses and bovids and, in view of the development of ranching, it followed the movement.
Since it thus renders considerable sanitary service by ridding cattle of ticks and flies, it is much appreciated by ranchers throughout the world. Whence its name, although in reality it keeps neither cattle nor donkey.
A less threatened species
- Name: Cattle Egret
- Latin name: Bubulcus ibis
- Origin : In Moderate Zones throughout the World
- IUCN status : Least concerned
- Cites : --