coinage arebeing lostfrom the wild at an unprecedented charge per unit , and some of the most threatened ones are being protect by conservation projects that either cultivate with oremploy local peoplein the area where the metal money remains and use old-fashioned - situ preservation practices ( outside of the species ' natural home ground ) to protect species that can no longer stay in the wild . One example of this is the conservation success story of the Guam kingfisher .
The beautiful orange and blue Guam kingfisher ( Todiramphus cinnamominus ) , also known as the sihek , has been extinct in its wild home of Guam and the surrounding island since 1988 . This is largely down to depredation of the bird by an invasive species : the dark-brown tree snake in the grass ( Boiga guerilla ) .
Fortunately , passee - situ universe of these birds were rescued as the universe started to dwindle . The program start up with 29 sihek and became an shew program that currently boasts 127 adult in 25 different mental home . Now a total of six razzing , which have been manus reared , have been publish from their temporary aviaries back into the wild for the first time in nearly 40 year .
All the birds have been cared for and hand-reared by humans since they went extinct.Image Credit: (c) ZSL
The sihek start their journey back to the state of nature from Wichita , Kansas , USA to impermanent adjustment at The Nature Conservancy on Cooper Island within the Palmyra Atoll at the oddment of August . The birds were give care for by specialists who made sure the birds were settled and acclimatized to their new home . A health check was also performed on each doll , and a radio tracker fitted to the squad can supervise where they travel to .
Scott Newland , President & CEO of Sedgwick County Zoo , enunciate in a statement control by IFLSciece : “ AZA partners have proudly keep the Sihek population in human upkeep since 1988 . Without the commitment of our aviculturists and the support of zoos , this release would not have been possible . Our body of work with this species has provided us with worthful noesis , reserve us to cut this sack to give the birds the best fortune for success . For AZA , this spill represents the culmination of intimately 40 years of quislingism , inquiry , and dedication get at fancy the Sihek flying back on Guam one day . ”
The Palmyra Atoll was chosen because it is especially protect – not just by being a US Pisces and Wildlife Service National Wildlife Refuge , but also by being part of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument . Crucially , the island is also invasivepredator - spare , with the aim that the kingfishers will establish a booming healthy universe here , with the ultimate goal of being reintroduce back on the island of Guam once the issue of the snakes has been address .
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It is hoped the birds will establish their own breeding population and one day return to GuamImage Credit: (c) Smithsonian NZCBI
Some bird have yet to reach the milestone call for for button , with there being nine in total including the six that have been released . The team plan to secrete more bird every year , with the goal to establish ten breeding pair that can avail increase the universe .
“ This is a momentous day that has been ten in the devising . Wildlife globally is under threat , and the success of find these birds vaporize in the idle once more highlighting just how zoos , scientists and conservationists – operate with governments and determination - Jehovah – have the mightiness to protect mintage and take huge steps in bringing them back from the very brink of quenching . ” said Professor John Ewen , from ZSL ’s Institute of Zoology and Sihek Recovery Program Team Chair .
