スミソニアン国立動物園さんのインスタグラム写真 - (スミソニアン国立動物園Instagram)「We are sad to share that Clint, our elderly Mariana crow at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute has died. He was 25 years old and he was the only Mariana crow living outside of Rota Island, the only place the birds are found in the wild. The Mariana crow is a critically endangered species endemic to Guam and Rota and is the only member of the corvid family in Micronesia. Invasive brown tree snakes, accidentally introduced to Guam during the 1950s, have hunted Mariana crows and many other birds, bats and reptiles on Guam to extinction. The last remaining 150 Mariana crows now live only on Rota, which is free of brown tree snakes. The Guam Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources (DAWR) works with partners around the world, including SCBI, to repopulate Mariana crows. Clint moved to SCBI, in 1995 as part of a recovery effort to save the species from extinction. In 1997 all Mariana crows living on the mainland U.S. were moved to Guam due to the threat from West Nile Virus. Corvids, which are birds that include crows and ravens, are extremely susceptible to West Nile Virus. Due to strict biosecurity precautions and requirements, Clint could not return to the Mariana Islands. After Clint’s companion, Russell, died in 2010, Clint began seeking out more interaction with his keepers and other staff. As a result, he imprinted on humans. Clint enjoyed multiple visits every day from staff, interns, volunteers and students who stopped by his outdoor enclosure. He was well known at SCBI for his playfulness, and would often bring sticks, leaves, or his favorite enrichment toys to the mesh of his enclosure for visitors to see. The Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute specializes in species management, propagation, research and reintroduction of birds native to Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. #WeSaveSpecies #MarianaCrow #Guam #Ornithology」1月29日 6時12分