Why did the crested ibis nearly go extinct?

Habitat loss and pesticide use decimated wetland foraging grounds across its range in China, Korea, and Japan; the last wild Japanese bird died in 2003, and the species survived only through a small remnant Chinese population rediscovered in 1981.

Why does the crested ibis turn its feathers black before breeding?

It secretes a dark, powdery substance from glands on its head and neck and rubs it over its plumage after bathing, staining its normally white feathers gray-black for the breeding season.

Crested Ibisトキ

Nipponia nipponEN— Endangered

The crested ibis is a striking white-and-pink wading bird once thought extinct, rediscovered in China in 1981 with only a handful of wild birds remaining. Decades of captive breeding and reintroduction in China, Japan's Sado Island, and South Korea have brought it back from the edge, though it remains Endangered.

Crested Ibis (reference photo) — Photo: Totti / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Source / cropped

Species Data

Classification: Pelecaniformes / Threskiornithidae Source
Distribution: Historically widespread across eastern China, Korea, Japan, and Russia's Far East; today restricted to Yangxian County in Shaanxi Province, China, with reintroduced populations on Japan's Sado Island and Noto Peninsula, and in South Korea. Source

Did You Know?

Before the breeding season, from around late January it secretes a powdery substance and rubs it onto its own feathers after bathing, deliberately staining them black. Source
It was believed extinct until wild birds were rediscovered in China in 1981; reintroduction on Japan's Sado Island has since brought the population there to nearly 500 birds by June 2022. Source

Where to See This Species

4 facilities · 0 individuals

いしかわ動物園 (Ishikawa Doubutsuen)Ishikawa

いしかわ動物園のWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

市川市動植物園 (Ichikawashi Doushokubutsuen)Chiba所在地は千葉県市川市大町284番地1。

市川市動植物園のWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

東京都恩賜上野動物園 (Toukyoutoonshiueno Doubutsuen)TokyoOpened in 1882

東京都恩賜上野動物園のWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

東京都多摩動物公園 (Toukyoutotama Doubutsu Kouen)TokyoOpened in 1958

トキのWikipedia記事に飼育施設として記載 Source

Conservation Story

Conservation Status

IUCNではEN（絶滅危機）です。日本では飼育下繁殖と放鳥が継続されています。

Habitat

水田、湿地、河川、里山の水辺。

Threats

生息地の減少
農薬の影響
小規模な個体群

Conservation & Breeding Efforts

飼育下繁殖
放鳥と生息地整備
水田を含む里山環境の保全

Sources

ja.wikipedia.org

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FAQ

Why did the crested ibis nearly go extinct?: Habitat loss and pesticide use decimated wetland foraging grounds across its range in China, Korea, and Japan; the last wild Japanese bird died in 2003, and the species survived only through a small remnant Chinese population rediscovered in 1981. Source
Why does the crested ibis turn its feathers black before breeding?: It secretes a dark, powdery substance from glands on its head and neck and rubs it over its plumage after bathing, staining its normally white feathers gray-black for the breeding season. Source

Source: ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org