A male ‘alala was found dead earlier this month, possibly a victim of predation.
The bird, named Maka‘ala, was one of 11 ‘alala released from captivity on Hawaii Island in 2017 as part of an effort to reintroduce the native crow species to the wild.
Another 10 were released this year through the ‘Alala Project, a collaboration of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources and San Diego Zoo.
Maka‘ala appears to be the project’s first fatality since December 2016, when three of the five birds that were part of the initial release were found dead after being in the wild for only a few weeks. The remaining two were brought back into captivity before additional releases in the Pu‘u Maka‘ala Natural Area Reserve were held.
“It is possible that there will not be a conclusion as to the species responsible for this incident,” USFWS said online. “However, threats to ‘Alala include introduced mammals like feral cats and mongoose, natural predators such as the ‘Io, and intra-group conflict with other released ‘Alala.”
According to the ‘Alala Project, Maka‘ala was found Dec. 6 under a tree root covered in vegetation with severe wounds on its body. It was last observed the day before.
The birds wear radio transmitters and are closely monitored.
“A preliminary necropsy performed by San Diego Zoo Global’s Disease Investigations Team concluded that these wounds may have been due to a predatory attack followed by scavenging,” a statement from the project says.
“Recovering the ‘alala in the wild will take many years and the ‘Alala Project remains committed to a future where ‘alala fly freely among the forests of Hawaii Island.”
‘Alala also were released into the wild in the 1990s, but the species was thought to be extinct in the wild as of 2002.
A representative with the ‘Alala Project couldn’t be reached for comment by deadline.
Email Tom Callis at tcallis@hawaiitribune-herald.com.