At one time, there were only 30 Hawaiian Geese in existence due to hunting and attack by other animals brought to the island. Thanks to conservation efforts, their population is on the rise.
Total length: 56 to 71 cm
(Source: Doubutsu Sekai-isan* Red Data Animals Kodansha) (*World Animal Heritage)
The Hawaiian Goose lives only on the Hawaiian islands of Maui, Hawaii, and Kauai.
They like to eat plant leaves and grass. Sometimes they also eat watery fruits.
Although they are a relative to the group of waterfowls, the Hawaiian Goose has small webbed feet because their habitat has very little water. Instead, they have long legs and large toes that allow them to walk over rocky areas with ease.
Hunted by mongooses, cats, and people...
The Hawaiian Goose is a waterfowl that only lives on the Hawaiian Islands. They were once a common sight throughout the Hawaiian Islands, with a population reaching 25,000 geese in the 18th century. However, once immigrants from Europe started arriving on the islands, their number dropped as they came under the attack of the mongooses and cats brought by the immigrants. As if that were not bad enough, people hunted them to the point that in 1949, there were only 30 geese left.
Conservation efforts help increase population!
Fortunately, for the Hawaiian Goose, many people and organizations are conducting conservation efforts aggressively. An ongoing effort in place since the 1950's has helped to breed the geese artificially and return them to the wild. Due these efforts, authorities were able to confirm at least 2000 geese in existence in the 2010s, and that number continues to increase today. Unfortunately, it is extremely rare for a population of endangered species to rise again. If the Hawaiian Goose can continue to increase and regain their original lifestyle, it would set a remarkable precedent for efforts to protect various other animals.
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