Scientist Takes First-Ever Photograph of Rare Bird – Then Kills It

Responding to criticism, he said: ‘Although sightings and information about the bird are rare in the ornithological community, the bird itself is not.

A researcher who found a species of bird not seen for 50 years has killed the rare animal, in the name of science.

By collecting the bird, Filardi, who is the director of Pacific Programs at the museum’s Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, was able to preserve it as a scientific specimen-but his actions have been widely decried on the Internet.

A scientist has defended killing an incredibly rare and handsome bird – shortly after capturing the first ever photograph of the male of its species ever taken. Filardi maintains that killing the bird would help scientists learn crucial facts about its anatomy, which may lead to a greater understanding of potential conservation strategies.

In a blog post for the museum, Filardi described his first encounter with the bird in awed tones, writing “one of the most poorly known birds in the world was there, in front of me, like a creature of myth come to life”.

Dr. Filardi argues that studying the dead bird could provide vast scientific knowledge and could protect the birds for years to come, reports The Independent. “In this context, the decision to collect an individual specimen of the Moustached Kingfisher as part of our survey work reflects standard practice for field biologists”, he writes, and the collection of a single bird will not impact the population.

He said that the bird was not “rare or in imminent danger” but that it was ‘poorly known and elusive to western science’.

But according to Birdlife worldwide, the birds are judged as endangered and Filardi’s actions sparked fury amongst animal rights activists.

Dr Filardi’s said that that locals living in the area view the Mustached Kingfisher, known to them as Mbarikuku, as common – but this may only be the case for the very small geographical span in which the bird can be found on the globe.

PETA Senior Director Colleen O’Brien wrote in an email, “It is a exhausted and nonsensical, self-serving claim that you must kill a few animals in the name of research so as to study them enough to save them”.

Marc Bekoff, professor emeritus of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Colorado, wrote a counter opinion for The Huffington Post. “It is wrong and sets a horrific precedent for future research and for children”.