A critically endangered Spix’s macaw hatched at a Belgian zoo, the first success in years, boosting hopes for its eventual return to the wild.

A critically endangered Spix’s macaw, extinct in the wild for over 25 years, hatched at a Belgian zoo, marking the first successful chick from 101 eggs laid at the facility. Officials credit a recent dietary change for the breakthrough, calling it a “miracle of life.” The chick, one of few remaining in captivity, is being hand-fed every two hours. The zoo aims to build a genetically diverse population to support future wild reintroduction. The species, once native to Brazil, survives only through global conservation breeding programs.