A conservation paradox: endangered and iconic flightless kagu (Rhynochetos jubatus) apparently escape feral cat predation
2020
Palmas, Pauline | Jourdan, Hervé | Debar, L. | Bourguet, Edouard | Rigault, Frédéric | Bonnaud, E. | Vidal, Eric | Institut méditerranéen de biodiversité et d'écologie marine et continentale (IMBE) ; Avignon Université (AU)-Aix Marseille Université (AMU)-Institut de recherche pour le développement [IRD] : UMR237-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) | Ecologie, Société et Evolution (ex-Ecologie, Systématique et Evolution) (ESE) ; AgroParisTech-Université Paris-Saclay-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) | Ecologie marine tropicale dans les Océans Pacifique et Indien (ENTROPIE [Réunion]) ; Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Université de La Réunion (UR)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) | ANR-10-LABX-0008,CORAIL,Coral reefs facing global change(2010)
The kagu (Rhynochetos jubatus) is an iconic endemic flightless bird from New Caledonia, red-listed as endangered according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) criteria. Feral cats are among the most successful and damaging invaders for island biodiversity. They have been directly responsible for the extinction of numerous birds worldwide, especially small- and medium-sized flightless species. Our study evaluates the feral cat threat to the kagu by analysing 772 cat scats from the two main sites housing major remaining populations (eight quarterly sampling sessions conducted per site over 2 years). Surprisingly, we detected no predation evidence against this endangered species (including chicks) although it falls within the cats' prey size range and exhibits life-history traits typical of island endangered naïve birds. We recommend a multi-species approach to invasive mammal management to mitigate direct and indirect pressures against remaining kagu populations.
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