Probe continues into endangered ‘akikiki deaths
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The Maui Bird Conservation Center is awaiting the results of necropsies performed on endangered honeycreepers that recently died at the center's Upcountry facility.
Earlier this month, the center reported a sudden increase in 'akikiki deaths associated with an unexplained illness.
"All available resources have been directed toward identifying the cause and preventing further losses," according to the center, which is a project of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.
Zoo spokesperson Emily Senninger said a comprehensive investigation is underway, led by a team of experts in veterinary medicine, toxicology, pathology, conservation science and wildlife husbandry.
"It includes an environmental assessment, toxicology testing, review of prior deaths and a suite of diagnostics to investigate possible infectious diseases," Senninger said.
Senninger said 18 'akikiki and three kiwikiu have died, while 29 'akikiki remain alive at the conservation centers on Maui and on the Big Island.
Senninger said that based on initial tests, influenza and malaria have been ruled out.
The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance operates the Maui and Keauhou Bird Conversation Centers, which focus on rebuilding sustainable populations of critically endangered Hawaiian forest birds and reintroducing them into native ranges.
Besides 'akikiki, the centers work with 'alalā, akekeʻe, kiwikiu, palila and ʻanianiau.
The center has been known for its work with reintroducing the 'alalā, or Hawaiian crows, on Maui in 2024.
The Maui Bird Conservation Center helped prepare 'alalā, or Hawaiian crows, for release into an East Maui forest in 2024. The center is now investigating recent deaths of 18 endangered 'akikiki and 3 kiwikiu associated with an unexplained illness. Photo courtesy state Department of Land and Natural Resources
The 'alalā were hatched and prepared for release under the care of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance at the Keauhou Bird Bird Conservation Center in Volcano and the Maui Bird Conservation Center Discovery Forest in Makawao.
The Hawaiian crow had been considered extinct in the wild since 2002. In 2024, five 'alalā were released into a forest on the slopes of Haleakala where they continue to do well, according to the Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project.
The 'akikiki's decline in numbers in recent years has been characterized as precipitous on Kauai where it was described by a state bird recovery official as the most dire situation of all of Hawaii's honeycreepers. Avian malaria and avian pox, transmitted by invasive southern house mosquitoes, are among the greatest threats to 'akikiki.
In 2021, talks were focused on translocating 'akikiki hatched from eggs to Maui. With the species considered functionally extinct in the wild, officials on Kauai have said the only chance for a viable future lies with breeding captive 'akikiki at bird conservation centers operated by San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.