Campbell Island Teal
From Freepedia
| Campbell Island Teal Conservation status: Critical | ||||||||||||||
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| Anas nesiotis (Fleming, 1935) | ||||||||||||||
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The Campbell Island Teal (Anas nesiotis) is a species of dabbling duck of the genus Anas that is endemic to Campbell Island group off New Zealand. It is sometimes considered conspecific with the Brown Teal. The Campbell Island Teal is a small brown duck that is nocturnal and flightless.
The Campbell Island Teal is critically endangered, with a wild population of possibly less than 50 birds. Once found on Campbell Island, it was driven to extinction there by the introduction of Norway Rats, and was for a while presumed extinct. In 1975 it was rediscovered on Dent Island, a small islet near Campbell that had remained rat free. The population was so small that a single event could drive it to complete extinction; to prevent this from happening a small number were taken into captivity by the Department of Conservation for captive breeding in 1984. A small population was released on Codfish Island, and, after the Norway Rat was removed from Campbell Island in 1993 the teal could return to its former home. 50 teal were reintroduced, and conservationists are hopefull of breeding soon.
External Link
- BirdLife Species Factsheet
- Map of Dent Island, Campbell Island and New Zealand and extensive information about the Campbell Island Teal
