Conservation of the birds of French Polynesia

A threatened heritage

The terrestrial avifauna of French Polynesia only counts around thirty species but in fact 26 species of them are endemic to French Polynesia.

Unfortunately, twenty amongst them are listed on endangered species red-list of the IUCN (Internation Union for Conservation of Nature).
By the beginning of the 20th century, eight species of endemic Pigeons and Doves were found in French Polynesia. One of them disappeared in 1920 and the seven other species although still alive are all threatened by extinction.

The rarest French bird...

The Tahiti Monarch is nowadays the most threatened French species : 25 individuals only are known to survive in the wild.

Fighting with the invaders...

After the arrival of the European people, several mammals (like domestic cat, dog, black rat, brown rat...) and birds (Swamp Harrier, Great Horned Owl, bulbuls...) were introduced in many islands, with detrimental effects to local species.

On the other hand, the natural vegetation was converted to agriculture (coconut palm for example).

Several Conservation programmes

The Ornithological Society of French Polynesia « MANU » together with the French Polynesia University has launched several programmes since several years in order to protect the most threatened species.

The CEPA is involved in three programmes :

- the conservation programme for the Marquesan Ground-Dove,
- the conservation programme for the Polynesian Ground-Dove, 
- the conservation programme for the Tahiti Monarch.
Actual actions for the different species

- survey to assess population size of each species on a long-term basis,
- identify the threats to each species in order to minimize them,
- initiate several urgent conservation programmes in the wild (translocation, predators destruction and control ...),
- establish an ex-situ breeding-programme even if in-situ field conservation (protection of the species and their habitat) is systematically preferred.
The Bristol Zoo has trained two Polynesian people for the breeding of Pigeons and Doves in captivity.

Implementation : MANU, Polynesian University, coordinator : C. Blanvillain
 
 

CEPA, one of the supporter

MANU
Société Ornithologique de Polynésie