The Slender-billed Curlew (Numenius tenuirostris), one of the world’s rarest migratory birds, has been officially declared extinct by the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) after nearly three decades without any confirmed sightings. The announcement, released on Friday (Oct. 11) via the CMS official website, marks the end of a species once known for its remarkable migratory journey across continents.
According to CMS, the decision follows an extensive scientific review showing no verified evidence of the bird’s existence since 1995, when it was last recorded in Morocco. The species has now been formally removed from both Appendix I and II of the Convention, where it had been listed as critically endangered for several decades.
“This is a sad day for conservation,” said CMS Executive Secretary Amy Fraenkel in a statement. “The extinction of the Slender-billed Curlew reminds us that even species capable of traveling thousands of kilometers are not immune to human pressures.”
A Vanishing Traveler Across Continents
The Slender-billed Curlew once bred in the steppes of western Siberia and migrated to the Mediterranean region during the winter. In the early 20th century, thousands of these birds were recorded annually along their migration route. But since the 1950s, their numbers plummeted due to habitat loss, wetland drainage, hunting, and land-use changes along migration corridors.
Extensive surveys conducted between 1990 and 2000 failed to locate any confirmed individuals. While unverified reports emerged from parts of Eastern Europe and North Africa in later years, none were supported by photographs, sound recordings, or physical specimens.
The latest analysis published by BirdLife International, and endorsed by CMS, concluded that the probability of the species’ survival is less than 4 percent. Researchers compiled more than 1,400 historical records, including specimens and field observations, to assess population trends. The data show that the species likely disappeared between 1995 and the early 2000s.
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A Global Loss and a Call to Action
The extinction of the Slender-billed Curlew represents a significant global loss, marking the first confirmed extinction of a migratory bird species across Eurasia and North Africa. CMS officials called the event a “wake-up call” for governments to strengthen protection measures for other migratory birds still at risk.
“Migratory birds depend on a network of habitats that span many countries. If one link in that chain is broken, the entire system can collapse,” Fraenkel said. She urged nations to improve international cooperation to safeguard wetlands, coastal areas, and stopover sites critical to bird migration.
Conservation groups also emphasized the need for stronger monitoring systems and the use of modern tools such as satellite tracking, automated cameras, and citizen science programs to detect population declines earlier.
The Slender-billed Curlew joins the list of migratory birds lost to extinction, alongside the Eskimo Curlew of North America and the Passenger Pigeon of the 19th century. Scientists warn that other wader and wetland bird species may soon face similar fates due to climate change, habitat degradation, and pollution.
CMS reaffirmed its commitment to advancing the Global Flyways Initiative, aimed at protecting migratory bird habitats across Asia, Africa, and Eurasia. “We can still prevent other species from sharing the same fate,” Fraenkel said. “But only if we act decisively—and now.” (Wage Erlangga)
