15 puaiohi released on Kauai
An endangered puaiohi, seen here in this
undated photo, into Alaka‘i Wilderness Preserve.
Posted: Saturday, April 2, 2016
12:30 am | Updated: 7:02 pm, Sat Apr 2, 2016.
The Garden Island
LIHUE — Captive-reared puaiohi flew into
the forests of Kauai Wednesday, marking the
end of a successful breeding program for the species and beginning the next
step in its recovery.
“This is a bittersweet moment for those
of us who have been working with these birds on a daily basis,” said Bryce
Masuda, Conservation Program Manager, San Diego Zoo Global. “We will miss
seeing them every day but are delighted to be part of the collaborative effort
to ensure this species survives into the future.”
In the late 1990s it was believed that
there were fewer than 300 of this little Hawaiian bird left on Kauai . Eggs from the species were brought to the bird
center so that a captive breeding population could be established.
With about 500 birds in the wild
population today, the decision was made to close the captive breeding program
to focus on other species in captivity. For puaiohi, the focus will be on addressing
remaining threats in the wild, including introduced predators, and habitat loss
from degradation and invasive weeds.
“Following the model used for the
puaiohi, we are now working to build breeding populations for two other
critically endangered Kauai species, the ‘akikiki and ‘akekee, while continuing
to manage habitat and other threats for these three endangered birds, so that
we can eventually release them back into the wild,” said John Vetter, wildlife
biologist for Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and
Wildlife.
A total of 18 birds were released
Wednesday, joining a population of puaiohi in the area. The KFBRP will monitor
the birds, and continue to control introduced mammalian predators such as rats,
which are a significant threat to puaiohi and other Hawaiian forest birds.
The continual removal of invasive species
and protection of the forest by many agencies and organizations also give hope
to the long-term recovery of puaiohi and other endemic forest birds on Kauai .
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