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 (Philippe Verbelen) Banggai crow
Crow Rediscovered in Indonesia
NOVEMBER 30, 2009John Roach, MSNBCA crow known to science only by two specimens described in 1900 and long thought extinct has reappeared on a remote, mountainous Indonesian island. Rediscovery of the Banggai crow was confirmed by a zoologist at Michigan State University, who compared two birds secured in 2007 on Peleng Island with the two preserved specimens at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. Distinctive eye coloration differentiates the species from the similar slender-billed crow, which also flutters around Indonesia.The IUCN lists the Banggai crow as critically endangered due to its scant population and increased rates of logging on Peleng Island. Conservation actions include a campaign to prevent local hunting of the bird and protection of its remaining forest habitat through sustainable agriculture initiatives. The agricultural measures would reduce the need to clear more trees to plant crops.Read about more "extinct" species found alive:
Little bird's rediscovery a big surprise
© 2009 msnbc.com
Reproduced with permission of MSNBC, from 8 ‘extinct’ species found alive and kicking: Amid extinction crisis, some species thought gone for good reappear by John Roach, November 30, 2009; permission conveyed through Copyright Clearance Center, Inc.
You can read this story in its original location and view more photos at: www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34152254/
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