A scientist has defended killing an incredibly rare and beautiful bird – shortly after capturing the first ever photograph of the male of its species ever taken.
The male mustached kingfisher is found only in the Solomon Islands and Guadalcanal Island. It is often described as a ghost bird because of its distinction.
It was clarified by the Pacific Programs at the American Museum of Natural History that the bird was killed to collect as a specimen for additional study.
He and his team’s actions have divided the public and scientific community. Some ecologists have heavily criticised the unnecessary slaying of the rare species for conservation purposes, whilst Dr Chris Filardi who killed the bird himself says the bird provides valuable scientific knowledge.
He said in a response to criticism on Audubon: ‘Although sightings and information about the bird are rare in the ornithological community, the bird itself is not. As I wrote from the field, this is a bird that is poorly known and elusive to western science – not rare or in imminent danger of extinction.’
Dr Filardi’s said that that locals living in the area view the Mustached Kingfisher, known to them as Mbarikuku, as common – but this may only be the case for the very small geographical span in which the bird can be found on the globe.
