There are Less Than 1,000 of These Birds Left in the Wild

The Madagascar heron, also known as Humblot’s heron, is a species of heron endemic to the north and west coasts of Madagascar. It is also natively present in the Comoro Islands and Mayotte. Due to a declining population, experts from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) included the bird on its Endangered Species Red List in 2016. Let’s look at the history of this gorgeous bird and how we can help its population recover in its endemic region.

What Is the Madagascar Heron?

Known scientifically as Ardea humbloti, the Madagascar heron was added to the red list in 2016 following a review of the population’s size at the time. A team assessed the species for inclusion in the endangered species lists on October 1, 2016, and has not received a reassessment since. The IUCN believes that, within the native ranges in Madagascar, the Comoro Islands, and Mayotte, there are less than 1,000 mature Madagascar herons and that the population continues to decline in the present.

One of the primary traits of the Madagascar heron is its wide range. It is classified as a terrestrial, freshwater, or marine animal, depending on the situation. Forests, inland wetlands, marine neritic, marine intertidal, and marine coastal/supratidal areas are all adequate for this bird. It can also live in artificial terrestrial zones designated for it. Since it is not a migratory species, relocating the species to more habitable areas would have to be intentional and human-directed. Unfortunately, its natural habitat is in decline as well, resulting in less habitable land for the species. There are many sources of habitat destruction for the Madagascar heron, which we will detail going forward.

Threats Facing the Madagascar Heron

The Madagascar heron faces a wide variety of external threats to its existence, the largest being agriculture and aquaculture expansion into its habitat. Expansion of perennial and annual non-timber farms in the area can result in major habitat destruction for animals like the Madagascar heron. In addition to agricultural and aquacultural expansion, human disturbances when crossing through heron habitats can cause the birds to face danger and stress, which can shorten lifespans and affect breeding behaviors. Climate change and severe weather disturbances also put stress on the species, causing mass deaths or habitat destruction.

In addition to threats from the climate and agriculture, there is also the danger from poaching and hunting, which can sometimes target the Madagascar heron’s already dwindling population. Hunting and trapping, logging and wood harvesting, and fishing and other aquatic resource use can result in accidental killing or habitat destruction. Finally, pollution poses a significant risk to the Madagascar heron. The introduction of pollutants can have widespread effects on large areas of land, making them uninhabitable for the local flora and fauna. Locals in the area also kill the birds for food from time to time, but experts do not consider this a significant risk compared to poaching.

How You Can Help

While most of the conservation efforts for the Madagascar heron requires more money and reach than the average person has available to them, there are still a few ways to get involved. The IUCN has implemented an action recovery plan that details the steps the organization plans to take regarding the conservation and repopulation of the species. Still, there’s a great need for additional funding to provide the necessary equipment and materials and to provide the ability for the organization to plan charity events and lobby for legislation to protect the species.

In addition to donations and attending charity events, citizens can participate in the education aspect of nature conservation. One of the biggest barriers to funding and legislation is a lack of public knowledge about nature conservation and its impacts. A great resource to learn more is heronconservation.org. By educating others through social media posts and in-person avenues, citizens can influence the outreach and impact legislation choices made by national and international bodies that impact this species.