Bird Extinct for 140 Years Caught on Camera in 2022

Rediscovery of the Long-Forgotten Black-Naped Pheasant-Pigeon on Fergusson Island

For over a century, Fergusson Island in Papua New Guinea was thought to be the final resting place of the Black-Naped Pheasant-Pigeon, a bird species that had eluded science and conservationists alike. Covering just over 500 square miles, this remote island was a natural sanctuary where the elusive bird had been minimally documented, with indigenous hunters reporting rare sightings primarily in the 20th century. By the late 1990s, the Black-Naped Pheasant-Pigeon was widely considered extinct, its existence known only through folklore and sporadic reports.

However, a remarkable turn of events occurred in 2022 when an organized expedition successfully located and documented the species once again. This rediscovery highlights the importance of exploring and preserving remote habitats, which often harbor species thought to be lost. The finding not only provides hope for the conservation of the Black-Naped Pheasant-Pigeon but also underscores the ongoing need for dedicated efforts to explore Earth’s last remaining wilderness areas, where nature continues to surprise us with its resilience and mysteries.