The Return of the Pochard
Our primary Madagascar partner on this project is Dr Lily Arison of The Peregrine Fund. As Director of The Peregrine Fund’s Madagascar Project Lily has made it his life’s purpose to conserve the incredibly rare and secretive raptors which call the island home. We previously reported on his super-human efforts to research and conserve the Madagascar Serpent Eagle, and other species he has focused on include the Madagascar Red Owl and Madagascar Fish Eagle – all of which are in a better situation thanks to his efforts. In the early 2000s Lily turned his attention to the Madagascar-endemic subspecies of Reunion Harrier, also considered as the Madagascan Marsh-Harrier by some classifications. As with other wetland associated species, the large-scale transformation of these habitats for rice growing has threatened this species. And, also as we have previously reported, being partial to very thorough field work, Lily undertook a country-wide census of the Madagascan Marsh-Harrier, travelling extensively throughout the region. It was during this survey that Lily “stumbled upon” the hidden wetlands and volcanic lakes that now form the Bemanevika protected area.
Sadly, the year of these surveys, 2006, was the same year that the Madagascar Pochard was officially declared extinct by the IUCN, after the last individual from its only known breeding site passed out of existence and into the annals of human impact. The pochard was one of those species which seemingly had not escaped the unrelenting transformation of natural wetlands for rice production. After completing his harrier surveys, Lily vowed to return to the Bemanevika area later that year to survey for his much loved forest raptors. Upon their return his team decided to establish their camp in a pristine forest surrounding an ancient volcanic crater lake. A suitable spot was found and the technicians got to work preparing camp. Lily decided to take a stroll through the forest to the edge of Lac Matsobrimena and promptly came crashing back through the forest to his technicians. Almost one year after it had been declared extinct Lily had found a tiny flock of nine adult Madagascar Pochard, with four ducklings, feeding happily on this isolated lake! The team departed immediately for Antananarivo, this news was too important to sit on. A so-called “lazarus species” – the Madagascar Pochard – had returned from the dead and was alive and well.
Collaborative conservation efforts ensued, with the support of organisations such as the Durrell Conservation Agency and the Wetlands and Wildfowl Trust partnering with the Malagasy government and The Peregrine Fund, among others, to ensure that this species did not again find itself on the extinction list. A few of the nine survivors were captured and relocated to a captive breeding facility in town of Antsohihy. The captive breeding facility has proven successful, with the global population (including wild and captive individuals) of Madagascar Pochard now numbering more than 150 individuals. The small population in the wild on Lac Matsobrimena continues to grow, perhaps benefiting from the extra protection afforded to the site since its discovery.
Lac Sofia is the last remaining large wetlands in what was once the extensive Bealanana wetlands, now a major rice growing region in the country. Although, the Lake supports more than 10,000 people with access to clean water and food, it is still home to a number of threatened species. Fortunately the local communities are committed to working with conservationists to ensure the sustainable management of this system. As the pochard population continues to grow Lac Sofia has now been targeted for re-introduction efforts. Of course, it is essential that existing threats which may lead to the loss of the bird at this site are mitigated in order to improve the success of restoration efforts. Conservationists have planned to develop a community-based natural resource management programme, to improve the livelihoods of the local community. Actions include using shade-grown coffee and vanilla as well as improved techniques for growing rice, to support the local community and reduce their reliance on the lake ecosystem.
On our first morning in Bemanevika the expedition team was privileged to take a walk down to Lac Matsobrimena, to view this Lazarus species first hand. To see the only wild population of a species which was thought to be extinct is a truly humbling and inspiring experience. We had visited the captive breeding facility in Antsohihy and were then treated to views of the “rarest duck in the world” in its only natural habitat at Lac Matsobrimena. Conservation, as with many things in life, often works in strange ways…if it was not for Lily’s interest in extensive surveys of rare raptors, this small and perhaps dwindling population of Pochard may never have been discovered. As the numbers slowly increase and the population becomes more secure the Madagascar Pochard’s future looks ever brighter. In our world of increasing threats to biodiversity and ongoing species extinctions, these stories of Lazarus species give us hope, and the motivation to continue with our increasingly important conservation work.