[tn-bird] BRAZIL: Rare Bird Rediscovered After 45 Years
- From: "Troy Ettel" <Troy.Ettel@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 07 Jun 2002 09:50:57 -0500
BRAZIL: Rare Bird Rediscovered After 45 Years=20
CAMBRIDGE, England, June 4, 2002 (ENS) - For 45 years, no one has seen or =
heard a golden-crowned manakin sing in the Amazon rainforest, and it was =
presumed to be extinct. Birdlife International reports that it is working =
with scientists who have rediscovered the bird, but they are worried that =
its habitat is being destroyed by development, and it may soon in fact =
become extinct.=20
F=E1bio Olmos who, together with Jos=E9 Fernando Pacheco rediscovered the =
species in the Par=E1 region of Brazil, said, "We were thrilled to find =
the lost manakin - quite distinctive from other manakins."=20
=20
Golden-crowned manakin (Photo by Fabio Olmos courtesy BirdLife Internationa=
l)
The golden-crowned manakin is one of the least known birds in the world - =
five individuals were found in 1957 and only one has been seen since. It =
was first discovered by ornithologist Helmut Sick, and was officially =
recognized as a species in 1959. Several unsuccessful attempts have since =
been made to find the bird. The species is on the IUCN Red List of =
threatened animals - status Vulnerable.=20
Olmos warns that the rare bird is still on the brink of extinction. "The =
local economy of the area is based on logging and cattle raising on =
cleared land. The Brazilian government is encouraging colonization but has =
no way of controlling loggers, squatters, colonists and gold miners once =
access is created."=20
"Forest destruction will remain a major threat to the long term survival =
of this beautiful bird and other wildlife of the area," he said.=20
The manakin was found while making surveys along the Cuiab=E1-Santar=E9m =
Road which is planned to be paved as part of the Avan=E7a Brasil Developmen=
t Program to ease transport access for the logging industry. This area is =
located between the Tapaj=F3s and Xingu rivers. There are no protected =
areas for habitat conservation in this region of Brazil. Existing national =
forests and Indian reserves do not guarantee the integrity of the =
ecosystem, as timber exploitation along with other potentially destructive =
activities are allowed.=20
Based in Cambridge, BirdLife Internation has a Brazil program that is =
establishing a network of conservationists, including Olmos and Fernando =
who rediscovered the manakin.=20
Alison Stattersfield who leads BirdLife's globally threatened species =
monitoring said, "This is tremendous news. This bird hasn't been recorded =
for 45 years, but there are genuine concerns that its habitat is under =
threat from the continued destruction of the fantastic Amazonian rainforest=
. It is vital that this wonderful natural resource is saved from further =
destruction and that the Brazilian environmental authorities implement an =
effective system of protected areas for the region's biodiversity."=20
=20
=20
Troy Ettel
State Ornithologist
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
P.O. Box 40747
Nashville, TN 37204
(615) 781-6653
Troy.Ettel@xxxxxxxxxxx
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