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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Sumatran laughing thrush
Total Population: 2,500 - 10,000 in the wild
Brandt’s vole
Total Population: Unknown
Black-naped fruit dove
Total Population: Unknown
Red-footed tortoise
Total Population: Unknown
Patagonian Sea Lion
Total Population: 222,500 to 265,000 in the wild
Black tree monitor
Total Population: Unknown
White naped mangabey
Total Population: Around 1,000 in the wild
African penguin
Total Population: Less than 40,000 in the wild
Smew
Total Population: Around 80,000 in the wild
Azara’s agouti
Total Population: Unknown
Fea’s tree frog
Total Population: Unknown
Nile Lechwe
Total Population: 30,000 - 40,000 in the wild
Asian short-clawed otter
Total Population: Unknown
Orange-headed thrush
Total Population: Unknown
Hyacinth macaw
Total Population: Around 6,500 in the wild
Inca Tern
Total Population: Around 150,000 in the wild
Guianan Squirrel Monkey
Total Population: Around 150,000 in the wild
Macaroni Penguin
Total Population: Around 12 million
Hamerkop
Total Population: Unknown
South American fur seal
Total Population: Around 200,000 in the wild