BY JOHN HOUANIAHAU
A Silver Fruit Dove bird species was discovered within the Nasi Land Resources Conservation site in West Are’are Malaita province.
This was according to Solomon Island Ranger Association Program Manager Edward Haikau Huitarau.
“Local rangers of Nasi recently found a bird species called Silver Fruit Dove. This bird species scientifically known as Ptilinopus superbus was found within the riparian buffer zone of Nasi Land Resources Conservation Foundation (NLRCF),’’ he said.
He said that the male Dove has a colourful body with a purple crown orange nape and shoulders.
He said that the NLRCF rangers are voluntarily doing good work already as far as conservation is concerned for them.
“Thus, I believe once we’ve carried out a full species baseline survey within the terrestrial forest and along the streams it will add several specimens to the bird collection, but utilising this as the sample collected was important for such a new conservation site,’’ he said.
He said that the exciting thing about the sighting was the fact that it was never thought that Nasi could host this sort of beautiful species as it was not regularly sighted.
“This now opens the possibility for further baseline surveys that would pave the way for further study.
“In going forward, there are many ways to expose children to the ideas of wildlife protection and here is one of the few suggestions; that is by way of actively engaging children at the appropriate age to discuss threats to birds and wildlife and their environment in terms of deforestation, habitat destruction and human impact on the environment, for example,’’ he said.
He said that the NLRCF rangers are raising young children to become conservationists who protect wildlife by actively engaging children.
