IMPORTANT NOTE: Some recently collected preliminary data suggests that there are several species of Green Peafowl, not the three subspecies currently recognized (Blackwood et al.). This data has not been published yet. See http://kickingthorn.com/v-web/gallery/DragonBird for more info A few years ago, the World Pheasant Association introduced Green Peafowl into Malaysia, where it was extinct, and claimed that the Javanese Peafowl was the one that actually existed there when the stock was from Burma. Though the Burmese or Arakan species Pavo spicifer did indeed live in Malaysia, it was not endemic to the region. Another form, totally extinct, was. This form, known as the Malay Pahang, was a beautiful bird, with a tall crest, golden neck, and rose back. This bird diverged from spicifer and was once described as a jewel. This bird is completely extinct in the wild, but still exists in captivity. Could a species totally extinct like this beauty in the wild return?
Birds - 3 Answers
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1 :
Perhaps a mutation.
2 :
Given the advances in bio technology, and with cloning (in which DNA is inserted into a donor egg), I imagine that some scientist could possibly take DNA from some taxidermied specimen and implant a more common strain of peacock with the ovum carrying a cloned individual of the extinct species. With enough cloned individuals of differing ancestry, yes, the population could be brought back. If...
3 :
If the bird still exists in captivity, then it can be re-introduced to the wild. As zookeeper, I have worked with the Przewalski's horse. It was extinct in the wild for many years, but has been re-introduced to it's native Mongolia, and is so far doing well. In order to be successful, scientists would have to determine what destroyed the original population and take steps to protect the introduced bird from that threat. Once there is a large enough captive population, some birds could be released back into their original habitat. With protection, monitoring, and further releases to improve genetic diversity, it is possible to restore a species to the wild.
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