Rare albatross is unique species

 

The rare Amsterdam Albatross only discovered in 1983 on Amsterdam Island in the southern Indian Ocean has now had its DNA analysed to show that it is not a sub-species of the Wandering Albatross Diomedea exulans but in fact a species in its own right.  For the full story see:BBC - Earth News - Rare albatross is unique species

There is only a handful of very large diomedeans so the discovery of a new one is hugely significant.  Hopefully its rarity, only 170 individuals, will be a benefit in its survival and will persuade us to make a real effort to protect it.  Since it apparently only breeds on Amsterdam Island we can be confident that it will be monitored properly.  Its scientific name is Diomedea amsterdamensis (rather dull but suitably specific!)

South Atlantic becomes more seabird-friendly

Great progress has been made in ensuring the safety and survival of seabirds in the south-east Atlantic.  As BirdLife International reports changes in fishing practices have helped to curb the decline of seabirds such as the Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophrys:


South Atlantic becomes more seabird-friendly: "BirdLife International and WWF South Africa recently achieved a major conservation success by improving the methods used by commercial fishermen in the south-east Atlantic Ocean to avoid killing seabirds."

These very positive developments auger well for similar ventures in other parts of the world.  Albatrosses are magnificent birds that are in great peril and every step in ensuring their survival is vital.

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Saving the Albatross

Three albatrosses have been added to Annex 1 of the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP), thus ensuring that the Agreement covers all of the species of albatross. This very welcome move ensures that albatrosses now have full legal protection in International Law.
Albatrosses are generally thought of as Southern Hemisphere birds but these three, the North Pacific species of albatross, Short-tailed Albatross Phoebastria albatrus, Laysan Albatross Phoebastria immutabilis and Black-footed Albatross Phoebastria nigripes are all found in the Northern Hemisphere.  There is now a real chance of arresting the decline in population across all species of albatross thus helping to conserve these magnificent birds.

Photo by Matt Knoth / Flickr 

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