Five ‘alalā, also known as the Hawaiian crow, have been released in the forests of Maui for the first time. The birds were hatched and prepared for release in the care of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance at the Keauhou Bird Conservation Center in Volcano and the Maui Bird Conservation Center in Makawao.
The release of the ‘alalā, scientific name Corvus hawaiiensis, on Maui is a milestone in a longstanding conservation programme that is trying to return this highly intelligent and charismatic species to its forest home. It is the result of a collaborative partnership between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the State of Hawai’i Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife, the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, and the University of Hawai’i. The National Park Service and The Nature Conservancy are active partners in the introduction of the ‘alalā on Maui.
Extinct in the wild since 2002, the ‘alalā is the only survivor of all Hawaiian crow species and were historically found on Hawai’i Island. Threats to their survival include habitat loss and fragmentation, and predation and disease by species introduced by humans, such as the domestic cat. The only remaining individuals in the world are found at the Keauhou and Maui conservation centres operated by the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, and at the Pana’ewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens, where they are granted a respite from these challenges.
The five ‘alalā that were released—two females and three males—spent several months in a social group at the Keauhou and Maui centres to establish strong bonds. The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance evaluated each bird for the release based on its behaviour, including its success in foraging for food and how it responded to predators. The birds were also assessed by veterinarians.
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“It means a lot to me to care for the ‘alalā,” said Keanini Aarona, avian recovery specialist at the Maui centre. “To me, and in my culture, the ‘alalā are like our ancestors—our kūpuna. The forest wouldn’t be there without these birds.” Many Hindus, who believe the souls of their ancestors return in the form of crows during Pitru Paksh, or memorial fortnight, would agree.
Species recovery requires a healthy and robust population in human care, and reintroduction in a suitable habitat. The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s approach to conservation breeding incorporates monitoring ‘alalā breeding activity in human care using remote cameras, and an emphasis on allowing parent birds to breed completely on their own. Scientists also process and analyze biological samples from ʻalalā. By understanding the challenges faced by the birds, the hope is to prevent and treat diseases and other health issues. This intensive management has resulted in an increase in the population from fewer than 20 birds in the late 1990s to more than 110 ʻalalā today. Many partner organizations are working to keep the recovery momentum going.
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Between 2016 and 2020, a total of 30 ʻalalā were reintroduced into the Pu’u Maka’ala Natural Area Reserve on Hawai’i Island. After some years of flying free, ʻalalā numbers began to decline once more and reintroduction efforts were paused. The remaining ʻalalā were returned to human care. The insights gained from the previous release effort on Hawaiʻi Island will be essential to the next phase on Maui.
“The translocation of ʻalalā to Maui is a monumental step forward in conserving the species and a testament to the importance of partnership in reversing biodiversity loss,” said Megan Owen, Ph.D., vice-president of conservation science at the alliance. “It is the result of years of preparation involving the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, USFWS, State of Hawaiʻi DLNR DOFAW, University of Hawaiʻi, and other NGOs, all of which have brought together a diverse range of skills and expertise to support the recovery of this species—one that is vital to the forests and people of Hawaiʻi.”
Like all native Hawaiian birds, ‘alalā face challenges to their survival in the wild, so it is essential to understand how to help them thrive in their forest home. Scientists of the alliance most recently evaluated ʻalalā nest quality and how it correlates with probability of egg loss. Their findings were published in the journal Zoo Biology. They also looked at how personality traits may impact mate selection, publishing the study in Animal Conservation. A related paper published in Frontiers in Conservation Science revealed that it is not the duration of the relationship that counts, but the age of the birds that determines breeding success. Another paper published in Conservation Science and Practice investigated ways to better manage ‘alalā after release by changing where biologists provide additional food.
