‘Like finding a unicorn’: Rare bird lost to science for 140 years rediscovered in Papua New Guinea

A uncommon chook final noticed 140 years in the past has been present in Papua New Guinea, delighting researchers.

The black-naped pheasant pigeon was final documented by scientists in 1882.

Native hunters have reported occasional sightings since then. However in latest many years the chook has flown beneath the radar, fuelling fears that it may need gone extinct.

New footage - captured by scientists on a month-long expedition in September- proves that the chook lives on.

The brand new discovery was like ‘‘discovering a unicorn,’ expedition co-leader John Mittermeier says.

“It's the sort of second you dream about your whole life as a conservationist and birdwatcher,” he says.

What's the black-naped pheasant pigeon?

The black-naped pheasant pigeon solely lives on Fergusson Island, a rugged island within the D’Entrecasteaux Archipelago off jap Papua New Guinea

The island is mountainous and thickly forested, making the seek for the chook extraordinarily tough. In 2019, a group of researchers tried and failed to seek out the chook.

This time spherical, the group laid 12 digital camera traps in a distant location prompt by an area hunter who had heard the chook’s distinctive name. With simply two days to go of the month-long exhibition, researchers weren’t optimistic

“Once we collected the digital camera traps, I figured there was lower than a one per cent likelihood of getting a photograph of the black-naped pheasant-pigeon,” stated Jordan Boersma, postdoctoral researcher at Cornell Lab of Ornithology and co-leader of the expedition group.

“Then as I used to be scrolling by means of the photographs, I used to be surprised by this photograph of this chook strolling proper previous our digital camera.”

What's the Seek for Misplaced Birds?

The expedition was supported by American Fowl Conservancy and the Seek for Misplaced Birds.

The Seek for Misplaced Birds - a collaboration between BirdLife Worldwide, American Fowl Conservancy and Re:wild - is a worldwide effort to seek out 10 birds that haven’t had confirmed sightings in additional than a decade.

Birds all over the world are beneath menace, with 49 per cent of all species beneath some degree of menace.Canva

In an effort to correctly shield uncommon birds, researchers need to work out the place they're dwelling, in order that they'll work out what particular environmental threats they face. Focused expeditions are due to this fact important to conservation efforts.

“This rediscovery is an unbelievable beacon of hope for different birds which have been misplaced for a half century or extra,” stated Christina Biggs, supervisor for the Seek for Misplaced Species at Re:wild

“The terrain the group searched was extremely tough, however their dedication by no means wavered, regardless that so few folks may keep in mind seeing the pheasant-pigeon in latest many years.”

Practically half (49 per cent) of the world’s chook species are declining, and one in eight are threatened with extinction. No less than 187 species are suspected to have gone extinct since 1500.