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A very rare species of duck has recently been reintroduced to the wild.
Twenty-one Madagascar pochards [POH-cherds], a species of duck that experts thought went extinct in the 90s, were released in Lake Sofia. These birds used to live in areas that have shallow waters and a lot of grass and other plants. Experts assumed that the birds went extinct after their habitat was destroyed due to fish farming.
After being considered extinct for about 15 years, a small flock of Madagascar pochards was found by a member of a wildlife conservation group in 2006. The ducks were dwelling in a remote lake in the northern part of Madagascar. Although ducklings were able to hatch in this habitat, surviving was difficult due to the cold and deep waters of the lake.
To prevent the birds from becoming extinct, several conservation groups and the Madagascar government decided to work together closely. In 2009, conservationists started raising newly hatched ducklings in captivity. The birds were able to grow into adults and reproduce.
In October last year, all captive-bred ducklings were transferred into a huge confined space in Lake Sofia. After a week, they were released in the open waters of the lake.
While the release of the ducks in Lake Sofia was considered successful, these birds may not survive elsewhere because much of Madagascar’s wetlands have been devastated. However, conservation groups are convinced that working hand in hand with the community is key to the birds’ survival. Conservationists hope that the release will continue to prove successful to set a fine example on how to protect animals against extinction.