EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) — Over a dozen keel-billed toucans that were smuggled across the U.S.-Mexico border have been rehabilitated at the Bronx Zoo.
According to a news release from the Wildlife Conservation Society, the toucans were found hidden in a vehicle’s dashboard last year at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry in San Diego. WCS said the birds had been sedated, bound to restrict movement and noise, and were in extremely poor condition when they were confiscated by federal authorities.
With the help of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, staff at the Bronx Zoo rescued the 14 toucans — 10 males and four females — all 3 to 4 months old.
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Showing signs of malnutrition, severe stress, and metabolic issues, WCS said, the toucans arrived on July 31, 2025, at the Bronx Zoo, where its ornithology and zoological health departments provided specialized care and rehabilitation over several months.
Chuck Cerbini, curator of ornithology at the zoo, said the toucans endured stressful and inhumane conditions during illegal transport and arrived in a “severely compromised state.”
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“This case highlights both the harm and cruelty of wildlife trafficking and the critical role accredited zoos play in giving rescued wildlife a second chance while supporting long-term conservation efforts,” he said.
The keel-billed toucan is native to tropical forests of Mexico, Central America, and parts of South America. It is protected by the Wild Bird Conservation Act and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), meaning its trade is strictly regulated.
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WCS said that for various reasons, the birds cannot be returned to the wild. However, now that they’ve been rehabilitated, the 14 toucans are already contributing to conservation breeding and education programs. Ten have been transferred to Association of Zoos and Aquariums institutions. The other four, two of which reportedly suffered fractured legs due to malnutrition, will remain at the Bronx Zoo…