By Sheetal Kumari | October 4, 2024
Once believed extinct in Europe, the northern bald ibis is making a surprising comeback thanks to conservation efforts across the continent.
Representative Image : Canva
This bird, known for its glossy black feathers and curved beak, held cultural significance in ancient times, even featuring in Egyptian hieroglyphs.
Representative Image : Canva
By the late 20th century, only 59 breeding pairs remained in Morocco, due to hunting, habitat loss, and pesticide use.
Representative Image : Canva
The establishment of Souss-Massa National Park in 1991 helped protect ibis habitats, growing the population to over 500 individuals today.
Representative Image : Canva
Thanks to successful conservation efforts, the International Union for Conservation of Nature downgraded the northern bald ibis from “critically endangered” to “endangered.”
Representative Image : Canva
In Spain’s Andalusia region, a project launched in 2004 has successfully reintroduced northern bald ibises into the wild.
Representative Image : Canva
In Austria and Germany, biologist Johannes Fritz teaches captive-reared ibises their migratory routes by guiding them with a small aircraft.
Representative Image : Canva
Due to environmental changes, the ibises’ migration route now ends in Spain instead of continuing to their historic locations.
Representative Image : Canva
Despite progress, the species still faces climate change and illegal poaching, which caused a 17% loss of the European population in 2023.
Representative Image : Canva
The return of the northern bald ibis is a powerful example of conservation’s potential, showing that even species near extinction can recover.
Representative Image : Canva