August M
A rare Galapagos bird believed to have disappeared from one island nearly two centuries ago has been detected again following a major conservation programme. Scientists say the finding highlights how wildlife can respond when long-standing threats are removed.
The discovery was made on Floreana, one of the inhabited islands in the Galapagos archipelago, after invasive predators were eliminated.
Species rediscovered
According to BBC the Galapagos rail, a shy and near-flightless bird, had not been recorded on Floreana for almost 200 years. While the species continued to survive on other islands, it was widely assumed to have vanished locally.
The last documented sighting on Floreana dates back to 1835, when the bird was noted during Charles Darwin’s visit to the island.
This year, conservation teams confirmed the presence of rails following the removal of rats and feral cats, which had long threatened native wildlife.
How it returned
Researchers say it is unclear how the birds came to be on Floreana again. One possibility is that a very small population survived undetected for decades. Another is that individuals recolonised the island from nearby locations.
“The Galapagos rail was one that I was not expecting at all,” said Paula Castaño, a wildlife veterinarian with Island Conservation, one of the organisations involved in the project. “It just showed up.”
Since the predator eradication, researchers report that the birds are now encountered regularly across the island.
Wider changes observed
Other native bird species have also shown signs of recovery since the restoration work. Scientists say some populations have increased, while changes in behaviour have also been observed.
Researchers have recorded variations in birdsong not previously documented on Floreana. They say this may reflect how animals adjust when predation pressure is reduced.
“The rails reappeared and now it’s very common to find these birds just walking around the island. You can hear it, you can see it, it’s unbelievable,” said Paola Sangolquí, a marine biologist with the Jocotoco Conservation Foundation.
Implications for conservation
Scientists involved in the project say Floreana provides a case study in how targeted conservation measures can support the recovery of native species.
They add that continued monitoring will be needed to understand how the ecosystem adapts over time, and whether similar approaches could be applied elsewhere in the archipelago.
Sources: BBC
