captive

By 1950, fewer than 30 nēnē remained wild in Hawaii; captive breeding helped the population reach 3,862 by 2022

by
Nēnē geese on Kauai, where 2,430 of the state’s estimated 3,862 nēnē were counted in 2022. (Wikimedia Commons)

Most of us would probably walk past a goose without a second glance. But one goose in Hawaii went from thousands to the brink of extinction and back to thousands again. The state bird of Hawaii is the nēnē. According to a feature story from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, by 1950, only 30 … Read more

In 1999, just 15 island foxes remained on each of two California islands; captive breeding and ecosystem restoration pulled the species back from extinction

by
In 1999, just 15 island foxes remained on each of two California islands; captive breeding and ecosystem restoration pulled the species back from extinction

In 1999, conservation biologists monitoring California’s northern Channel Islands faced a serious crisis. Only 15 island foxes remained on San Miguel Island and another 15 on nearby Santa Rosa Island, leaving the small native species close to extinction. An emergency recovery program launched by Channel Islands National Park and partner organisations helped save the animals. … Read more