The story of extinct animals coming back to life is always a heartening one. In the world of birds, we have seen a few cases where species have been brought back from the brink of extinction. Here are some of the amazing stories of birds that have returned from extinction.
Pava Aliblanca
The Pava Aliblanca, or the White-winged Guan, was once a common bird in the Andean region of South America. However, due to deforestation and hunting, the bird disappeared from the wild in the 1970s. The species was declared extinct in 1990.
But a small population was discovered in captivity in a Peruvian zoo, and since then, efforts have been made to reintroduce the bird into the wild. Thanks to these efforts, the Pava Aliblanca has been successfully reintroduced to its natural habitat.
Takahe
The Takahē is a flightless bird that is endemic to New Zealand. In the early 1900s, the bird was thought to be extinct due to overhunting and habitat destruction.
However, in 1948, a small population was discovered in a remote region of New Zealand. Since then, conservation efforts have been made to protect the species, and now there are over 400 Takahi living in the wild.
North Island Saddleback
The North Island Saddleback is a bird that is endemic to New Zealand. The species was once widespread, but due to habitat loss and predation by introduced species, it was declared extinct in the wild in the 20th century.
However, a small population was discovered on an island in New Zealand, and since then, conservationists have been working to reintroduce the bird into its natural habitat. The population has now grown to around 600 birds.
Whitethroated Rail
The Whitethroated Rail is a small bird that is native to the Indian Ocean island of Aldabra. The bird was declared extinct in the late 19th century due to the introduction of predators to the island.
However, in 2019, researchers discovered a population of the bird on a nearby island, indicating that the species had recolonized the area. It is believed that the bird was able to recolonize the area due to rising sea levels that connected the islands.
Black Robin Bird
The Black Robin Bird is a small bird that is native to the Chatham Islands in New Zealand. The species was once down to just five individuals, making it one of the rarest birds in the world.
However, a conservation program was started in the 1970s, and since then, the population has been slowly recovering. Today, there are over 200 Black Robins living in the wild.
