In Farino, southern New Caledonia, the endangered cagou bird faces threats to its survival from predators like wild dogs, cats, and pigs. A “massacre” in 2017 decimated the population, but dedicated efforts to protect the birds have led to a significant increase in numbers. Scientists Jörn Theuerkauf and Henri Bloc have studied the birds for over a decade, using transmitters to monitor their movements and identify their territories. The pairs of cagous, consisting of one female and several males, are closely watched, with efforts to ensure successful reproduction and nesting.
Conservation efforts have been ongoing for decades, including a program that began in the 1980s to release captive-raised cagous into the wild at the Rivière Bleue provincial park. The zoo in Noumeā continues to breed cagous in captivity, releasing them once they are ready to adapt to the wild. Injured birds are also brought to the zoo for care before being released back into the wild.
Thanks to these efforts, the cagou population in Rivière Bleue park has grown from 60 in 1984 to over 1,000 today. Park manager Jean-Marc Meriot notes that the population is constantly expanding, with new pairs of cagous establishing territories in the forest. Pest eradication efforts are conducted regularly to address threats from wild pigs and stray dogs.
Overall, the cagou population in New Caledonia is thriving, with the birds once again reproducing and increasing in numbers. Dedicated conservation efforts have proved successful in protecting this culturally significant species, ensuring its continued survival in the rainforest of Farino.
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Photo credit www.theguardian.com