June 17, 2012 - 5:58 PM
TORTOLA, British Virgin Islands - Billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson says he is reintroducing a flame-red bird to the British Virgin Islands.
The Virgin Group boss says on his blog that a Scarlet Ibis was recently born on his private island in the British Caribbean territory.
Branson says it's "the first Scarlet Ibis born in the British Virgin Islands for over 100 years."
He has developed an exclusive eco-resort on Necker Island that showcases renewable energy technology and successfully reintroduced flamingos there.
Branson says he hopes the protected Scarlet Ibises will be as successful as the flamingos so the U.K. territory "can enjoy the beauty of these birds."
The British tycoon is also introducing lemurs on nearby undeveloped Moskito Island, a move criticized by some scientists who say the non-native species could disrupt the ecological balance.
News from © The Associated Press, 2012