Five Hawaiian crows were released to Maui on Wednesday for the first time, as part of an ongoing effort to return the species to its home, conservationists said.
Hawaiian crows, or alala, were last found on Hawaii’s Big Island, but died out in the wild in 2002, officials with the San Diego Zoo Deer The covenant is stated in the constitution. The birds, described as intelligent and charismatic, are the last surviving species of Hawaiian hornbills. Habitat loss, predation and disease-induced species threats, among other things.
“The relocation of the alala to Maui is a monumental step in the conservation of the species and a testament to the importance of society’s loss in changing biodiversity,” said Megan Owen, vice president of conservation science at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.
The release is the result of years of preparation by multiple agencies and organizations including the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forests and Wildlife, and the University of Hawaii, he said.
The five released alala included two females and three males at the Keauhou social group and the Maui Bird Conservation Center to establish strong bonds. The San Diego Zoo Breeding Alliance evaluated birds for release based on how well they foraged for food and responded to predators. The birds were also evaluated by veterinarians.
“I have a lot to worry about for the alala,” Keanini Aarona, an avian recovery specialist at the Maui Bird Conservation Center, said in a statement. “To me, and in my culture, alala are like our ancestors grandfather. Without these birds the forest would not be there.”
Thirty birds were reported between 2016 and 2020 in the Puu Makaala natural forest reserve on the Big Island. After several years of success, alder numbers began to decline and reintroduction efforts stopped, officials said. The rest of the wings were returned to human care.