Endangered Pacific Island birds appear extinct
ABC Online 28/01/2002
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service says another two Pacific Island bird species
appear to be extinct.
No birds from either species have been seen in their natural habitat in Guam and the
Northern Marinas for more than 15 years.
The two species, the Marianas Mallard and the Guam Broadbill, have been on the endangered
list for quite some time.
The Marianas Mallard was listed in 1977 because of concerns it was losing its wetland
habitat and was being excessively hunted.
It was too late and the last confirmed sighting was in 1979.
The Guam Broadbill may have lasted just a little longer, it was last seen in 1984.
An introduced predator the brown tree snake which arrived in Guam in the 1940s is believed
to have contributed to its demise.
Elsewhere in the Pacific there is concern about how destruction of mangroves is
endangering fish stocks.
In Samoa the Observer newspaper reports a call on the government to halt people clearing
mangrove swamps while in Palau, a Senator has won Committee approval for a bill to put a
curb on tourist developments in mangrove areas.END OF REPORT
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