Sacred Ibis
Ibis sacré · Heilige ibis
The sacred ibis is a large white wading bird with a bare black head and neck and a long, curved bill. Revered in ancient Egypt as the embodiment of the god Thoth, it has a less glorious history in France: birds that escaped from the Branféré wildlife park in Brittany in the 1990s established wild colonies along the Atlantic coast. Considered an invasive species, it has been the subject of controversial culling campaigns. Despite this, it remains a common sight in the Vendée marshes, where its striking black and white appearance is easy to spot.
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