What is the typical expected lifespan for zebra finches living in their native Australian habitats?
Answer
Typically only 2 to 3 years
The geographical location where a zebra finch resides has a profound and measurable impact on its expected lifespan, vividly illustrating the harshness of life outside managed care. In their native Australian habitats, the expected lifespan is considerably short, typically ranging only from two to three years. This brevity in tenure is thought to directly reflect the 'boom-and-bust' cycle endemic to the environment, which is tied to the erratic patterns of rainfall that dictate when their breeding season can be triggered. They must reproduce rapidly and effectively when conditions become temporarily favorable before environmental stress or resource scarcity shortens their lives.
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