Hawk-eyed photographer snaps threatened bird feared lost


The New Britain goshawk is found on only Papua New Guinea’s New Britain island and is considered threatened, though information about its status is sparse. - AFP

BANGKOK: A hawk-eyed photographer has thrilled scientists by snapping a threatened bird of prey in Papua New Guinea, more than five decades since it was last officially documented, the World Wildlife Fund said Friday (Sept 13).

The New Britain Goshawk is only found on Papua New Guinea's New Britain island and is considered threatened, though information about its status is sparse.

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature estimates there are between 2,500 and 10,000 mature individuals in the wild, but the bird's elusive nature makes details hard to confirm.

In fact, the bird is so unusual that Fiji-based photographer Tom Vierus didn't even realise what he captured until later.

"It was such a great surprise to hear that this photo seems to be the first-ever of this 'lost species,'" he said in a statement issued by WWF, an environmental NGO.

The last scientific documentation of the species appears to be a 1969 specimen now kept in a US museum, according to John Mittermeier, director of the Search for Lost Birds at the American Bird Conservancy.

While there have been sporadic reported sightings, "the New Britain Goshawk seems to have eluded photo, sound, and specimen documentation for 55 years," he said.

WWF said the discovery highlighted the importance of protecting the area from threats including logging and mining.

Much of Papua New Guinea's population lives below the poverty line, and many officials are keen to welcome companies to exploit vast reserves of gold, copper, nickel, natural gas and timber.

It is also home to the world's third-largest intact tropical forest, according to WWF, and environmentalists warn little research has been done on diverse and rich ecosystems now at risk. - AFP

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Papua , bird , Goshawk , rare , photograph

   

Next In Aseanplus News

Blinken to attend G7 meeting in Italy, US State Department says
'Abang Adik' wins Best Film at the 10th Asian World Film Festival held in Los Angeles
Dr Wee is set to address key issues at the 11th GLA Conference in Bangkok
Asean News Headlines at 10pm on Friday (Nov 22, 2024)
Aaron-Wooi Yik, Pearly Thinaah bow out of China Masters
Japan government approves mammoth US$140bil stimulus with aims putting more cash into peoples' pocket
Man killed after public place shooting in Sydney's inner city
Gold bars, cash bundles in kimchi boxes: Millions seized from S. Korea tax dodgers
Action star Jackie Chan recalls earning his first HK$4mil pay cheque and buying 7 luxury watches in one go
Singapore raises 2024 growth forecast as recovery takes hold in good manner this year

Others Also Read