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African Penguins in Peril

10,000 Birds

Today, there are more than 3,000 birds at this accessible colony and they are protected by fences and stiff fines for human disturbance. On the mainland they face predation from domestic cats, dogs, genets, mongoose and Cape Gulls which steal their chicks and eggs. Part of the 3,000 strong penguin colony at Boulders Beach, Cape Town.

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Filling the Gap Left By DeBooy’s Rail

10,000 Birds

It is now believed to have been a fairly common resident of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands until the arrival of the first humans when it went the way of most flightless easy to catch island birds immediately after the arrival of man. It persists in captivity at a breeding facility on Guam and in a number of American zoos.

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Come@Me: Don’t Mourn for Extinct Birds

10,000 Birds

The causes were the usual reasons for island extinction—deforestation by both humans and invasive plants that crowded out native plants, hunting, and invasive rats, mongoose, monkeys, and, of course, feral cats. Is it any wonder that Pink Pigeons were on the brink of extinction when humans intervened? I know, that’s harsh.

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