Page 74 - World of Animals - Issue #41

Birds on the brink

The world’s rarest magpie

The stunning Javan green magpie is critically endangered, and hasn’t recently been seen in the wild

The Javan green magpie is found in just four on invertebrates, small frogs and lizards, and to rescue the species. They are one of the
areas of forest in Indonesia. A few years ago, they prefer to breed when it rains, raising just world’s most endangered animals, and
there were thought to be fewer than 250 one or two chicks at a time. However, these bringing them back from the brink now
adults left in the wild. Today, it’s not known birds have fallen victim to habitat destruction represents a real and pressing challenge for
whether any remain. In fact, there has only and the pet trade, and their future hangs in the conservationists seeking to save them.
been one confirmed sighting by a bird expert the balance. Setting up captive breeding programmes
in the last ten years. In 2013, the first successful captive is known as “insurance”; in case they really
These beautiful animals have distinctive breeding of these animals was completed, do become extinct in the wild. It is hoped
green feathers and a dark black band across and since then, pairs of the birds have that maintaining the species in this way could
their eyes. They live among the trees, feeding been flown across the world in an attempt eventually lead to repopulation of wild forests.

“A few years ago there
were thought to be

fewer than 250 adults
left in the wild”

3 things we love
about birds

Birds are directly descended from
dinosaurs. Their ancestors were the
theropods – a group that includes
the infamous T-rex.
They are incredible singers,
but they don’t just chirp songs.
Lyrebirds can mimic almost any
sound, including chainsaws and
car alarms.
While penguins are unable to take to
the skies, they have adapted to use
their wings to ‘fly’ underwater. Auks
and guillemots can also do this.

5 of the most endangered bird species in the world

Kagu Philippine eagle Kakapo Californian condor Giant ibis
These island birds live in New These are the largest eagles on the These birds live on the ground in The demise of North America’s These enormous birds are native
Caledonia, and are hunted for food. planet - so big that their main prey New Zealand, and are particularly largest land bird is down to local to Cambodia, and are the largest of
They live on the ground, and aren’t are monkeys. Their forest habitat is vulnerable to predators. They have human activity. Major threats include their kind. Their habitat is declining
used to escaping from predators like declining, pushing them to the brink been overrun by invasive species like lead poisoning, and accidentally as wetlands are drained to make way
dogs and rats. of extinction. stoats and rats. eating discarded rubbish. for farms.

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