<
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/dec/05/hawaiian-crows-alala-maui>
"Five Hawaiian crows on Wednesday were released on Maui for the first time as
part of an ongoing effort to return the species to its home, conservationists
said.
The Hawaiian crows, or alala, were last found on Hawaii’s Big Island, but they
went extinct in the wild in 2002, officials with the San Diego Zoo Wildlife
Alliance said in a statement. The birds, described as intelligent and
charismatic, are the last survivors of all the Hawaiian crow species. Habitat
loss, predation and disease by introduced species are threats, among other
factors.
“The translocation of alala to Maui is a monumental step forward in conserving
the species and a testament to the importance of partnership in reversing
biodiversity loss,” said Megan Owen, vice-president of conservation science at
the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.
The release is the result of years of preparation by multiple organizations and
agencies including the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Hawaii’s department of
land and natural resources division of forestry and wildlife, and the
University of Hawaii, she said.
The five alala released included two females and three males that spent months
in a social group at Keauhou and Maui Bird conservation centers to establish
strong bonds. The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance evaluated the birds for the
release based on how well they foraged for food and responded to predators. The
birds were also assessed by veterinarians.
“It means a lot to me to care for the alala,” Keanini Aarona, avian recovery
specialist at Maui Bird Conservation Center, said in the statement. “To me, and
in my culture, the alala are like our ancestors – our
kūpuna. The forest
wouldn’t be there without these birds.”"
Via
Positive.News
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
