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a manumia, the closest living relative of extinct dodo birdThe sighting is the first since 2013, raising hopes that the critically endangered species may be saved from extinction.
Samoa Conservation The society’s latest field survey, conducted from October 17 to November 13, found at least five sightings. Didunculus strigirostris In the rainforest of the South Pacific nation.
“It remains unclear whether these sighting Involve the same individual or different birds. “All individuals observed appear to be adults, so we cannot confirm whether the species is nesting in the area or simply searching for food,” Samoa Conservation Society project coordinator Moimu Uili told local media.
Wildlife experts say the rainforest valleys near Ufato village, where the sightings were observed, may play a role in protecting the bird and its habitat from cyclone damage.
Experts say the manumia’s reliance on large native seeds, which other birds cannot eat, has made it a national symbol in Samoa, although many in the country do not know what it looks like.
This bird is known to play a vital role in dispersing these large seeds, helping to maintain Samoa’s forest ecosystem.
The dodo-like bird was found in the rainforests of Samoa, but its fast movement and rainy conditions made it difficult to photograph.
A chicken-sized bird with an unusually thick, curved bill and tusk-like teeth, the only surviving species of the genus DidunculusMeaning “little dodo”.
Surveys in the early 1990s indicated that there were approximately 7,000 Manumia in Samoa. But large-scale habitat destruction decimated the species, with only 50–150 thought to survive by 2024.
Efforts to observe and track the bird highlight the challenges in saving wildlife species from extinction, especially in fragile island ecosystems, where they are vulnerable to invasive predators such as feral cats and rats.
Joe Wood, who works on Manumia conservation efforts at the International Union for Conservation of Nature, said, “It seems that feral cats are a major cause of decline. There should be some kind of control program.” biology,
Researchers are working on deploying advanced AI sound monitoring tools to detect the bird and understand its behavior in the future.