A Hawaiian bird believed to guide the dead into the afterlife has made a return to the wild after being extinct for over two decades.
The Hawaiian crow, known as the 'alalā, once abundant in the region, drastically declined due to habitat loss, invasive species, and diseases. The bird went extinct in the wild by 2022, according to Scientific American.
For years, conservationists worked to bring the species back through breeding programs and reintroduction efforts in the 2010s with limited success.
In November 2023, five young 'alalā were released into the forests of Maui, far from their former range to avoid predation by hawks. This release, a product of years of preparation, marks a hopeful milestone in ongoing reintroduction efforts.
For Hawaiians, the 'alalā is more than a bird. It's a sacred ancestral spirit, believed to guide souls to the afterlife. The extinction of the 'alalā in the wild left a spiritual void, making its reintroduction of deep cultural significance.
The birds are being tracked closely with GPS and will receive supplemental feeding as they acclimate to the wild.
Experts are hopeful that with the absence of hawks and additional predator training, the birds will thrive.
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