Taipei Fine Arts Museum

At Taipei Zoo’s Tropical Rainforest Area, a pair of black swans has laid eggs year after year. However, their nests have often been disturbed by clever small wild carnivores roaming the area, which meant no cygnets ever successfully hatched. In 2026, determined to avoid another disappointing outcome, zookeepers carried out a carefully planned a cleverly staged egg switch. Shortly after the eggs were laid, the team replaced them with realistic dummy eggs and transferred the real ones to the zoo’s specialized Bird Incubation Room for artificial incubation. After much anticipation, the cygnet finally hatched—using all its strength to break through the shell—marking the first successful hatching for the black swan breeding program this year. When the chick was returned to its parents, both swans immediately displayed strong protective instincts, much to the keepers’ relief. The team now hopes the chick will grow up safe and sound.

Earlier this February, the black swan pair in the Rainforest Area laid another clutch of eggs. As in previous years, these eggs were at risk of being disturbed by small wild carnivores within the zoo grounds. To prevent history from repeating itself, zookeepers once again implemented the egg swap strategy—replacing the real eggs with convincing replicas and moving the originals to the incubation facility—successfully hatching one cygnet this year.

During the incubation process, the chick showed remarkable determination, pecking persistently at the shell with all its strength. Keepers could even hear its loud calls before it fully emerged. Exhausted from the effort of hatching, the tiny but spirited chick fell asleep immediately after breaking free—such an endearing moment that was both touching and amusing. Once the chick was confirmed to be in stable condition, the most challenging step followed: how to return it to its mother without raising suspicion. Zookeepers used a clever distraction to guide the mother swan away, then placed the chick—along with its broken eggshell—back into the nest to simulate a natural hatching process. Fortunately, the parent swans readily accepted the fluffy newcomer and quickly displayed strong parental instincts, allowing the keepers to finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Visitors to the Rainforest Area can now often witness a heartwarming scene: the mother swan gliding across the water with her chick. To protect this hard-won new life, the mother is highly vigilant. Any approaching fish or pigeons hoping for food are promptly driven away. If visitors come too close or stare too intently, both parents will respond with sharp gazes, vocal warnings, and wing displays to deter them.

The chick remains close to its mother at all times. After swimming, while its downy feathers are still wet, the mother will call it back to the nest and tuck it under her wings to keep it warm—a deeply touching sight. Growing rapidly day by day, the cygnet is thriving under its parents’ care, as this black swan family unfolds a beautiful story of parental devotion. Taipei Zoo warmly invites visitors to the Rainforest Area to quietly observe this family. Please avoid loud noises and keep a respectful distance to prevent alarming the parents, so you can witness the chick’s most natural—and most adorable—moments.