https://phys.org/news/2025-01-endangered-hawaiian-crow-extinct-wild.html
"A decades-long effort to save a critically endangered Hawaiian crow from
extinction is taking a new strategy—relocating the birds to a different island
than their historical home. And the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is playing
a key role.
The 'alalā is native to the Big Island where earlier reintroductions were
tried. In early November, however, wildlife experts released five of the birds
on the island of Maui. The shift was made to avoid a Hawaiian hawk known as the
'io that killed many of the released birds. The predator only lives on the Big
Island.
The 'alalā is the only surviving native crow species in Hawaii. Its decline is
blamed on a loss of habitat due to logging and deforestation, as well as
predation and diseases brought by introduced species. A sharp dip in numbers
prompted some birds to be brought into captivity in the 1970s, and the last
'alalā seen in the wild was in 2002.
The football-sized birds are about 18 inches long and a duller black color than
crows in North America. They are considered highly intelligent and have been
known to use sticks as tools to dig out insects.
In the wild, they promote forest growth by dispersing seeds of native plants.
They are revered in Hawaiian culture as sacred spiritual family guardians and
have loud, distinctive cries.
State and federal agencies, the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and other
partners are working together to help the species. The zoo, which joined the
effort in 2000, manages conservation breeding centers where the world's only
remaining 'alalā exist—one on the Big Island and one on Maui. (Two male birds
are also displayed at a zoo in Hilo.)
The breeding program has boosted the number of birds from fewer than 20 in the
late 1990s to a flock of 120 to 140, officials say."
Via Susan ****
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
