Critically Endangered Bird Believed Dead Spotted Alive in Hawaiian Islands

On the slopes of a Maui volcano last Wednesday, a golden, thick-billed bird assumed to have passed away more than 1.5 years prior was spotted alive. According to Newsweek, the discovery is providing scientists hope for the critically endangered species.

Because of mosquitoes and mosquito-borne diseases, Kiwikiu have been limited to higher, cooler elevations where the mosquitoes and malaria cannot reproduce. However, due to climate change, these areas are becoming less safe, as warming temperatures allow mosquitoes to move farther upslope. In addition, Kiwikiu are threatened by habitat destruction and degradation from non-native pigs, as well as predation by introduced cats and mongooses. Kiwikiu are listed as Endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and as Critically Endangered by the IUCN. Population estimates place the total population between 109 and 202 individuals.