Whipsnade Zoo instrumental in the release of extinct in the wild birds for first time in 40 years
Six sihek (Guam kingfisher) are now officially living in the wild, in the tropical forests of Palmyra Atoll
A group of six Guam kingfishers (sihek), which have been extinct in the wild since 1988, have been successfully reintroduced to the wild in Palmyra Atoll for the first time in nearly four decades.
This release is part of a long-term conservation effort by the Sihek Recovery Program, a global partnership that includes the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Sedgwick County Zoo, and other organizations.
The sihek’s extinction in the wild was caused by predation from invasive brown tree snakes in Guam. Since then, the birds have only been kept in captivity, with 127 sihek housed in institutions across the United States.
To restore the species to the wild, nine young birds—five males and four females—were raised at Sedgwick County Zoo in Kansas, with support from zookeepers from Whipsnade and London Zoos.
Erica Royer, aviculturist from the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, said: "It has been a multi-year endeavor to get the birds to this point, from breeding the sihek, incubating the eggs, hand rearing the chicks and now releasing them in Palmyra.
"As someone who cares for sihek on a daily basis, it is monumental to be able to reintroduce these individuals into the wild after more than three decades."
Palmyra Atoll, a U.S. National Wildlife Refuge free from invasive predators, was selected as the release site for the birds.
The atoll provides a safe environment where the sihek can adapt to the wild, with the long-term goal of reintroducing the species to Guam once the snake threat is mitigated.
The release of six birds is part of a gradual process, with the remaining three birds to be released once they meet survival milestones.
The program aims to establish a stable population of sihek on Palmyra and to continue monitoring the birds’ adaptation.
The eventual goal is to return the species to its native habitat in Guam, contributing to global efforts to protect biodiversity.