By Sakshi Sah
Published Oct 01, 2024

Hindustan Times
Trending

Photo Credit: Waldrappteam

Ancient bird, once believed extinct, returns after 300 years

Once thought extinct in Europe, the Northern Bald Ibis has made a remarkable comeback thanks to dedicated conservation efforts.

Photo Credit: Waldrappteam

The northern bald ibis disappeared from Europe over 300 years ago, with some believing 16th-century depictions were purely imaginative.

Photo Credit: Waldrappteam

By the 1990s, the global population of wild Northern Bald Ibises had dwindled to just 59 pairs, all found in Morocco.

Photo Credit: Waldrappteam

The species suffered from hunting, habitat destruction, and the use of harmful pesticides, pushing it to the brink of extinction.

Photo Credit: Waldrappteam

In Morocco, intensive conservation programmes began in the 1990s, aiming to protect the species and rebuild its population.

Photo Credit: Waldrappteam

Through these efforts, the population of Northern Bald Ibises in Morocco grew to more than 500 individuals by 2018.

Photo Credit: Waldrappteam

The IUCN Red List changed the species' status from "critically endangered" to "endangered" in 2018, reflecting its recovery.

Photo Credit: Waldrappteam

Today, there is a managed migratory population of around 270 Northern Bald Ibises in Europe, marking a major conservation success.

Photo Credit: Waldrappteam

The ibises are now migrating across Europe for the first time since the 1600s, re-establishing their presence on the continent.

Photo Credit: Waldrappteam

With continued efforts, the Northern Bald Ibis is on a path towards long-term survival, a testament to global conservation.

Photo Credit: Waldrappteam