The Sumatran Laughingthrush (Garrulax bicolor) is a passerine classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Endemic to Sumatra, this mountain forest bird species has had a rapid decline due to intensive trapping for the caged-bird trade over the last three decades. Once common and widespread along the mountainous spine of Sumatra, the Sumatran Laughingthrush is now rarely seen and most of the remaining habitat that this species can occupy is in North Sumatra where there are localised populations.
In 2007, a request was made by sponsors of CCBC to gain individuals and breed this species to increase the captive population size. From 2007 to 2010, 14 birds were acquired in bird markets in Java and, in 2011, the Sumatran Laughingthrushes in CCBC started to breed. CCBC then went on to have a very successful breeding conservation programme with this species, understanding well what the requirements are for the keeping and breeding of this species in the ex-situ environment.