Island Conservation
Report finds that mainland and island birds benefit from the Endangered Species Act and captive breeding programs, but many are still in need of protection. A report has found that 61% of Pacific Island bird populations protected by the Endangered Species Act have demonstrated recovery about 20% less than mainland bird populations. The report states that the Guam Rail […]
Endangered Kiwi chick hatches at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Virginia. The Kiwi is an important native bird of New Zealand. The feathered yet flightless creature was named by the Maori–the first people to ever live in New Zealand. The Kiwi is integral to Maori culture and considered sacred. It traditionally served as an occasional food […]
Critically Endangered Kākāpō, the world’s heaviest parrot, has had a much-needed breeding success this year. This breeding season, 37 Kākāpō chicks are surviving on predator-free island sanctuaries. The charming New Zealand native experienced a dangerous population decline in recent years due to the introduction of invasive predators. The Kākāpō is flightless–it lives and forages peacefully on […]
Three new lemur species have been identified in Madagascar, an island nation off the southeast coast of Africa. Scientists from the German Primate Center (DPZ), the University of Kentucky, the American Duke Lemur Center and the Université d’Antananarivo in Madagascar have described three new species of Mouse Lemurs. The identification of new lemur species has […]
Endangered species find refuge on predator-free Wedge Island, Australia. The protected area offers species a chance to bounce back from extinction. The Critically Endangered Brush-tailed Bettong and Black-footed Rock Wallaby used to thrive in Australia. However, due largely to predatory invasive species such as feral cats and foxes on Mainland Australia, these mammals have experienced […]
Ecological models, rules, and genetic sequencing technology bring researchers to conclusion that almost one-trillion species live on Earth. Perhaps you remember as a child enjoying books with detailed illustrations of all kinds of animals. Many of us learned about the great diversity of species that we share the planet with at a very young age. We […]
New Zealand’s Department of Conservation aims to protect the Black-fronted Tern, an endangered migratory seabird that depends on safe island nesting sites. The Black-fronted Tern is an endangered seabird native to New Zealand. Its population has been steadily decreasing over the past several decades due to invasive predators that prowl their nesting sites. After three years of careful […]
As part of a recovery program, two Critically Endangered Kakapo chicks have been flown in a helicopter to a sanctuary on Codfish Island, New Zealand. There they will spend three months in an enclosure that ensures their protection from predators. Conservationists are working hard to help the Kakapo thrive in the wild. New Zealand Conservation […]
Blue Iguanas, threatened by invasive species, were downlisted from “Critically Endangered” to “Endangered” thanks to conservation efforts. What could possibly put a 5-foot long, 25-lb giant reptile on the Critically Endangered species list? How could the largest species on the Grand Cayman Islands be at risk of extinction? Under normal conditions the Blue Iguana would thrive in its native […]
Conservationists celebrate the successful breeding season of the Tāiko, a Critically Endangered seabird native to New Zealand. One of New Zealand’s most endangered birds just had a very successful breeding season! The Chatham Island Tāiko, also known as the Magenta Petrel, is a Critically Endangered seabird and was thought to be extinct for over 100 […]