Fiji petrel eludes 10-day search off Gau Island
Scientists and community members spent ten days searching for the critically endangered Fiji petrel in waters off Fiji's Gau Island without success.
Expedition yields no sightings
The National Geographic Pristine Seas team conducted a ten-day survey in May 2025 alongside BirdLife International and NatureFiji-MareqetiViti. Researchers spent over 12 hours daily scouring skies using chumming, spotlighting, and acoustic attraction techniques. They secured the only known audio recording of the bird's call but failed to find any verified sightings. Current estimates suggest that fewer than 50 people may still be alive on the planet.
Historical records compiled
The published paper compiles every confirmed sighting from 1855 to the present day for this endemic species. Throughout its existence, people documented this bird just 16 times on land and 22 times in the ocean. No nests have ever been found for this seabird despite extensive historical searches by scientists. Land sightings ceased after 2012 while the last confirmed sea sighting occurred during a 2023 scientific search.
Community vows protection
Local residents on Gau Island vowed to protect montane forests where the birds are thought to nest. Lindsay Young stated that invasive species control gives remaining birds a fighting chance against extinction. The team hoped to tag a bird to understand nesting habits but came up empty after little sleep.
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