17/10/2017
BirdLife International is pushing
an action plan to save the Endangered Yellow-breasted Bunting, after unchecked
hunting has pushed it to the verge of extinction in the space of just three
decades.
In the mid-1990s, the observed
decline of Yellow-breasted Bunting in Hokkaido, Japan, alerted conservationists
that this superabundant species might be in trouble. It has suffered a huge
decline, possibly as much as 95 per cent of its population, in the span of just
two to three decades. Prior to 2004, this attractive seed-eater was not
regarded as of conservation concern, but since 2013 it has been listed as
Endangered and this year the discussion on BirdLife’s Globally Threatened Birds
Forum concerned a potential further uplisting to Critically Endangered.
The species migrates in huge
flocks which are hunted in massive numbers, and its plight has been worsened by
improvements in communication and transportation. The species gathers in large
numbers at night to roost, making the birds easy to trap in high numbers. It is
known as ‘Rice Bird’ in China, where it is hunted for food; this practice has
been illegal since 1997 but continues on the black market to this day.
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