this post was submitted on 29 Aug 2023
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Science

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Prehistoric bird once thought extinct returns to New Zealand wild (www.theguardian.com)
submitted 1 year ago by anon6789@beehaw.org to c/science@beehaw.org
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In New Zealand, the return of wild takahē populations marks a cautiously celebrated conservation victory, and the return of one of the world’s rarest creatures. The birds had been formally declared extinct in 1898, their already-reduced population devastated by the arrival of European settlers’ animal companions: stoats, cats, ferrets and rats. After their rediscovery in 1948, their numbers are now at about 500, growing at about 8% a year.

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[–] liv@beehaw.org 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Want a another fun fact? The bats evolved to spend a lot of time just walking around on the ground.

And, there's a special species of fly that lost the ability to actually fly, and for transport it rides around on the backs of the short tailed bats.

Edit: links in next comment.

[–] anon6789@beehaw.org 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I enjoy that I can no longer tell if you are serious or not!

What a country! 😂

[–] liv@beehaw.org 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

All my fun facts are 100% real! Footage of short tailed bat walking around on the ground.

Wikipedia entry on Bat Fly .

Department of Conservation bat blog about the flies, with pictures.

Hmm this bat is so cute I might go post it on an ecology community now. :-)

[–] anon6789@beehaw.org 2 points 1 year ago

The bat is definitely cute!