An American research team tracked down a rare bird, took
the first ever photograph of it, and shortly killed it thereafter last month.
Chris Filardi, director of Pacific Programs at The Museum
of Natural History, is defending his choice to slaughter the bird which he says
was "collected as a specimen for additional study."
The male moustached kingfisher is found only in the Solomon
islands and specifically one called Guadalcanal where Filardi was 'surveying
endemic biodiversity and working with local partners to create a protected
area, ' according to a Facebook post Filardi made from the American Museum of
Natural History page on September 24.
Filardi writes about how he was in awe at spotting the bird
after hearing its signature 'kokoko-kiew' call.
"When I came upon the netted bird in the cool shadowy light
of the forest I gasped aloud, "Oh my god, the kingfisher." One of the
most poorly known birds in the world was there, in front of me, like a creature
of myth come to life. We now have the first photos ever taken of the bird, as
well as the first definitive recordings of its unmistakable call,' wrote
Filardi in the post before killing the winged creature.
The Do Do reports that Dr. Filardi's choice to kill the
bird has divided the scientific community over the morality of killing animals
for research.
Ecologists have criticized what they say is an "unnecessary
slaying" of a rare bird for conservation purposes.
Dr. Filardi argues that studying the dead bird could
provide vast scientific knowledge and could protect the birds for years to
come, reports The Independent.
On Audubon.org Filardi wrote, "Through a vision shared with
my Solomon Island mentors, and focused keenly on sacred Uluna-Sutahuri lands,
the Moustached Kingfisher I collected is a symbol of hope and a purveyor of
possibility, not a record of loss."
This was not a 'trophy hunt,' he said, adding that the bird
was captured, "during a groundbreaking international, multi-disciplinary
biodiversity survey of the uplands of Guadalcanal Island in the Solomon
Archipelago that was led by Pacific islanders."
He said that the bird was not "rare or in imminent danger" but that it was "poorly known and elusive to western science."
According to Birdlife International there are just between
250 to 1,000 mature birds in the region it inhabits which classifies it as
'endangered.'
Dr. Filardi said that to the locals the bird is very common
but that’s only in that specific region.
"With this first modern voucher of the kingfisher, the only
adult male, we now have a comprehensive set of material for molecular,
morphological, toxicological, and plumage studies that are unavailable from
blood samples, individual feathers, or photographs," wrote Dr. Filardi.
"Detection and understanding of the impacts of marine
pollutants, eggshell thinning from DDT, and anthropogenic body size shifts in
widespread species, are examples of the power of natural history collections," he added.
Marc Bekoff, professor emeritus of ecology and evolutionary
biology at the University of Colorado, wrote a counter opinion for The
Huffington Post.
"When will the killing of other animals stop? We need to
give this question serious consideration because far too much research and
conservation biology is far too bloody and does not need to be.
Killing 'in the name of conservation' or 'in the name of
education' or 'in the name of whatever' simply needs to stop. It is wrong and
sets a horrific precedent for future research and for children."
Defense: Chris Filardi, director of Pacific Programs at The
Museum of Natural History, is defending his choice to slaughter the rare male
male moustached kingfisher which he says was "collected as a specimen for
additional study."
First photograph: Chris Filardi and his team took the first
photos ever taken of the bird which lives on the Solomon Islands.
Divided in thought: Ecologists have criticized what they
say is an "unnecessary slaying" of a rare bird for conservation purposes.
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