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Major Documented Decline of 'Alala Populations
The major decline of ‘Alala
population began in the 1900’s and like with many native Hawaiian
birds, such as the Koa Finch and Kona Grosbeak, dealing with the loss
of land to agriculture, forestry, and the introduction of exotic
predators and exotic disease proved to be too great of a
challenge(USFWS 2009). -
Period: to
Recent Documented Conservation Events and Legislature
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'Alala listed under the State's Protected Birds List
Surveys of native birds conducted in the first
half of the 20th century led to the listing of the ‘Alala under the
state’s protected birds list in 1931 (Sakai et al. 1986). -
Due to declining populations 'Alala becomes listed under the Endangered Species Protection Act (Now ESA)
However
this did not have any significant impact on the declining population
so the ‘Alala became one of the first species listed under the
Endangered Species Protection Act (now the ESA) passed in 1967 (USFWS
2009). -
Active capture and rearing of injured individuals
Due to the dwindling population
of the bird in the wild the team captured and rehabilitated all
injured and sick individuals starting in 1975. -
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services publishes a recovery act
The
road to recovery has been long and began in 1982 when the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service published a recovery act specific to the ‘Alala.
In addition to this USFWS commissioned a review of the ‘Alalas
status and designated an official recovery team to undertake the
work. -
First re-introduction effort with 27 individuals
By 1993 a small cohort
of 27 individuals had accumulated through captive breeding and the
recovery team attempted the first re-introduction. -
Re-capture of all wild crows to prevent complete extinction
The
re-introduction effort was a partial success but the majority of birds did not survive and remaining few had to be re-caputured to prevent complete extinction. -
Period: to
Raising captive populations
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Between 1997 and 2012
Since then the recovery team has
been focused on attaining a larger cohort size and a suitable habitat
for a second attempt. Over the period of 15 years the reproductive success of the captive population has improved and there are currently 95 birds in captivity. The recovery team will most likely attempt another reintrodcution event within the next few years.
