The dogged search for a bird that many people figured had gone extinct included torrential rains, washed-out bridges, swine flu, and unrelenting obsession.
The Madagascar pochard was actually thought to be extinct for 15 years until rediscovered in 2006 when just 22 birds were found at a remote lake. Their population crashed because rice cultivation and introduced fish destroyed their habitat. Conservation teams have been raising ducklings and creating artifical floating islands for them to nest safely. Pretty amazing comeack story for a species on the brink!
The Madagascar pochard was actually thought to be extinct for 15 years until rediscovered in 2006 when just 22 birds were found at a remote lake. Their population crashed because rice cultivation and introduced fish destroyed their habitat. Conservation teams have been raising ducklings and creating artifical floating islands for them to nest safely. Pretty amazing comeack story for a species on the brink!