Zoos unite to reintroduce extinct kingfisher as tiny bird is hailed as blueprint to bring back other animals
The bird was last seen in the wild in 1988
The guam kingfisher is extinct in the wild
Credit: ZSL
Bird collections across the world have united to reintroduce a tiny kingfisher, which is extinct in the world, as the bird is hailed as the blueprint for bringing back other long-lost species.
The Guam kingfisher was last seen in the wild in 1988 after the population plummeted due to the accidental release of brown tree snakes into its Pacific island habitat in the 1940s. It is believed these predators escaped from shipping and delivering supplies for rebuilding a severely damaged infrastructure during the second world war.