These large birds can thrive in a range of habitats from forests to urban areas, although they usually nest near water. This ranges in type from rivers and seas to lagoons and even sewage works. Some populations migrate within Africa during rainy seasons to breed. Individuals fly up to 30km away from their nesting colony in search of their preferred diet of insects, but they can also feed on crustaceans, fish and small mammals which they find by wading in shallow wetlands.
Fun Fact – Sacred ibises were worshipped in ancient Egypt as the god Thoth.
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Ecology
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Threats
Some populations are threatened by hunting and outbreaks of avian botulism, as well as egg collection by local Madegascans. However, the global population is stable at 200,000-450,000 individuals as of 2018 and they are listed as least concern by the IUCN.
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Conservation
Monitoring occurs to ensure the species continues to thrive, and they occur in protected areas. Otherwise, little action is needed to ensure their immediate future. The samples collected by Nature’s SAFE are a long term safeguard to protect them in case populations ever started to decline.
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Preserved January 2024
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At least 50 distinct genetic lines are needed to save each species.
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Asian short-clawed otter
Total Population: Unknown
Mandarin duck
Total Population: Around 65,000 in the wild
Bar-headed goose
Total Population: 97,000 - 118,000 in the wild
Black tree monitor
Total Population: Unknown
Red-footed tortoise
Total Population: Unknown
White naped mangabey
Total Population: Around 1,000 in the wild
Collared peccary
Total Population: More than 2,000,000 in the wild
Senegal galago
Total Population: Unknown
Sloth bear
Total Population: Less than 20,000 in the wild
Fea’s tree frog
Total Population: Unknown
Guianan Squirrel Monkey
Total Population: Around 150,000 in the wild
Arctic wolf
Total Population: Around 200,000 in the wild
Macaroni Penguin
Total Population: Around 12 million
Spix’s night monkey
Total Population: Unknown
Parma Wallaby
Total Population: 1,000 - 10,000 in the wild
Lesser Madagascan tenrec
Total Population: Unknown
Black Hornbill
Total Population: Unknown
Common Hippo
Total Population: Less than 150,000 in the wild