Traffic sign to be aware of Hawaiian geese (Nene), Volcanoes national park, Hawaii
The nene is the world's rarest goose. It is believed that it was once common, with approximately 25,000 Hawaiian geese living in Hawaii when Captain James Cook arrived in 1778. Hunting and introduced predators, such as small Asian mongooses, pigs, and cats, reduced the population to 30 birds by 1952. The species breeds well in captivity, and has been successfully re-introduced; in 2004, it was estimated that there were 800 birds in the wild.
Year: 2016
From album: Nature Reserves in Hawaii
Photographer: Peter Prokosch