Elche City Council has released eight white-headed coots at the Clot de Galvany natural park in Alicante province, as part of a programme to protect the endangered species.

The birds were placed in an acclimatisation cage in a lagoon for seven days, allowing them to adapt gradually to natural conditions and local food sources. During that time, they were given feed before the cage was opened and they were fully released. Supplementary feeding will continue for a few days to support their transition.

The coots were provided by the Valencian regional wildlife service as part of ongoing reinforcement programmes for threatened species. Since the first controlled release in 2022, a total of 27 white-headed coots have been introduced at the site.

The council has said the initiative strengthens the Clot de Galvany’s role as a refuge for endangered wildlife. A further 20 marbled teal, a critically endangered duck species, are due to begin their own acclimatisation process next week.