HONOLULU — The Board of Land and Natural Resources on Friday approved plans for the pilot release of captive-bred ʻalalā, native Hawaiian crows, into east Maui forest reserve lands.
What You Need To Know
A previous attempt to reintroduce ʻalalā on Hawaii Island was stopped because the crows were being preyed upon by the native Hawaiian hawk, ʻio, their natural predator
Researchers are hoping the release is successful on Maui since the county does not have a breeding population of the Hawaiian hawk
A joint environmental assessment addressed possible impacts of releasing the ʻalalā, focusing on two sites, Kipahulu Forest Reserve and Koolau Forest Reserve
ʻAlalā will come from the captive population of 120 at two conservation breeding facilities managed by the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance on Maui and Hawaii Island
