by Playfuls Staff |
27th February 2007
A team of biologists reports recording for the first time the call of the extremely rare Sumatran [more] ground cuckoo, found only on the Indonesian island of Sumatra.
The bird had been captured by a trapper and given to biologists with the New York Wildlife Conservation Society. The scientists recorded the bird's call while it nursed an injured foot. Once fully recovered, the bird will be released back into the wild.
Society officials said the Sumatran ground cuckoo is considered to be one of the world's rarest, most secretive birds and is restricted to Sumatra's deep jungles and rainforests. Ornithologists believed the bird was extinct until 1997 when a single individual was briefly seen. Last year a second bird was photographed at a remote camera trap.
"We were extremely lucky to have recorded the bird's unique call," said Firdaus Rahman of the WCS's Indonesia Program. "Our team will use the recording to hopefully locate other Sumatran ground cuckoos and to eventually secure their protection."
© 2007 UPI
