The thin-billed curlewalso known as curlew (Numenius tenuirostris), was recently declared almost certainly extinctwith a probability of 96%. This migratory bird, characterized by a slender body, a light neck and dark spots on the chest and sides, was about 40 centimeters long.
His last documented presence dates back to the mid-ninetieswhen it was spotted in North Africa. The species reproduced mainly in the peat bogs of western Siberia and central Asia, then migrating to the humid areas of the Mediterranean to spend the winter.
Because it became extinct
A study published in the scientific journal Ibisconducted by prestigious institutions such as the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, BirdLife International and the Natural History Museum in London, highlighted different causes underlying this extinction.
Among the main factors was the drastic reduction of natural habitats due to agricultural expansion and reclamation of wetlands. These interventions have altered both the breeding grounds and the resting places necessary during long migrations. Furthermore the low reproductive capacity of the species has hindered the recovery of the population.
Other factors, such as pollution, disease, climate change and predationhave further aggravated the situation. However, according to experts, the final blow came from indiscriminate hunting.
This bird, in fact, was known for its little distrust towards humans, a behavior that has made it an easy target, especially in Italy, in the regions of Puglia and Tuscany. As the species has declined, demand for specimens for private collections has put even greater pressure on remaining populations.
This is not an isolated case
The case of the slender-billed curlew. Ornithologists warn that climate change and human activity are accelerating the extinction of many more migratory species. According to BirdLife International, the curlew represents the first documented extinction of a migratory bird in Europe, northern Africa and western Asia. Additionally, the announcement coincides with an update to the IUCN Red List, which raised the threat level for 16 more shorebird species.
The loss of the curlew highlights once again the urgency of preserving natural habitats and adopting more effective policies for the protection of migratory fauna, before other species follow the same fate. Now, to admire this fascinating bird, only images and illustrations will remain, a memory of a natural beauty that will no longer be able to fly in our skies.
