Newsletter / Blog
2011-03-05 African Birding News
A lifeline to prevent Africa's first recorded bird extinction
Liben Lark [ Sidamo Lark] - Heteromirafra sidamoensis
This species is
listed as Critically Endangered. It has an extremely small range [a single
grassy plain in southern Ethiopia]
and its range size is decreasing. The remaining habitat is rapidly being
degraded, and the number of mature individuals is decreasing [with a population
of possibly fewer than 100 birds]. The Liben Lark is tipped to become
mainland Africa's first recorded bird
extinction.
This globally threatened bird has now been thrown a lifeline thanks to funds
raised, £242,000 (US$395,000) by the British Birdwatching Fair held at Rutland
Water last August. These funds will be used by the Ethiopian Wildlife and
Natural History Society, the BirdLife Partner in the country, to work with
local communities to reduce the impact of over-grazing livestock and prevent
conversion of the land to arable farming. Helping the grasslands recover will
benefit both the lark and the local inhabitants.
|