Guam Rail

Overview

Guam rails (locally known as the Ko'Ko') are elusive flightless birds once native to the island of Guam until brown tree snakes were accidentally introduced on the island at the end of World War II. With no defense against such a predator, their populations declined rapidly. Because Guam rails were no longer found on their native island of Guam, they were classified as Extinct in the Wild according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The Guam Department of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources (DAWR), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and zoos accredited by the Association of Zoo and Aquariums (AZA) came to the rescue. Through cooperative breeding efforts managed by the Guam Rail Species Survival Program, chicks have been successfully released onto the snake-free neighboring islands of Rota and Cocos. Monitoring has shown that introduced rails are thriving and raising families in their new home. In 2019, the Guam rail became the second bird in history to recover after being declared Extinct in the Wild, and is now designated as Critically Endangered. The Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo has proudly hatched several chicks that were released onto Rota!

Learn more about the work conservationists are doing to bring the Ko’Ko back from the brink. This short podcast features Zoo Animal Technology Program graduate, Suzanne Medina, who is a Wildlife biologist working on the front lines in Guam to save this beautiful bird.