Håfa Adai! I Hinaonao Mo'na (The Journey Forward) was created to bring awareness on what Guam's natural resources have to offer, what challenges they face, and what local and national communities can do to help sustain and protect these resources. The blog was also created to perpetuate Pacific languages with an emphasis on Chamorro language. Dångkolo na Si Yu'os Ma'åse put i finatton-miyu (Thank you for visiting)
Monday, 24 June 2013
I Ke'ko': The Guam Rail
Håfa Adai all!
If I had to answer the question "What got you into science/ the environment?", I would have to simply say "the ko'ko'".
The Ko'ko' or commonly known as the Guam rail, is a medium-sized, flightless rail endemic to the island of Guam. With a suit of brown, black and white belly, and stylish gray slash just above its eye, this bird is one of those important species that belong on Guam.
There are currently approximately 125 rails in captivity on mainland Guam and there are approximately 40 birds on Dåno' or Cocos Island, an atoll off the coast of Malesso' (Merizo).
On Rota, there is an experimental population and there are about 50 birds.
Across the mainland United States, 17 zoos are participating in the recovery of the Guam rail species (the list of zoos will soon be posted). So if you plan to take a trip to one of these zoos, be on the look out for the ko'ko'!
The ko'ko' almost became extinct due to many causes, with one of the causes being the introduction of the brown tree snake. Other causes of extinction in the wild may be derived from habitat loss and chemicals introduced.
Today's 300 some ko'ko' are the descendents of the last19 rails that were collected in the wild on Guam in 1982.
There is hope amongst the biologists of Guam to reintroduce this rail species back on mainland Guam.
Together as an island, Guam may help speed up the process of re-introduction by doing the small things that make our island better:
1.Throw trash in the proper bins (recycling is a plus!)
2. Plant native trees: by planting native trees, the island community can come together for the native birds left (såli: Micronesian starling and yayåguak (Mariana swiftlet) and for the future of Guam and her nature.
3. Use your reusable bags. If there is one thing I notice about my surrounding, I observe many plastic bags flying around. Please, let us try our best to keep this island clean and green.
si Yu'os ma'åse
Until next time.
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