Six Guam kingfishers, known locally as sihek, were released into the wild on Sept. 23, marking their return from nearly four decades of being extinct in the wild.
The successful reintroduction of extinct-in-the-wild species like the sihek offers hope in the face of the current human-driven mass extinction crisis.
Their return to the wild is a testament to our people’s spirit and our commitment to preserving our heritage.”.
The sihek (Todiramphus cinnamominus) was once endemic to the forests of Guam, an island in the western Pacific that is today a U.S. territory.
Given that only 45 breeding females remained in the world at that time, the hatching was a big win for the program.
Keeping a species alive and healthy in captivity or cultivation takes tremendous work, resources, coordination, and long-term commitment.
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