Africa-Press – Cape verde. A new sighting of the frigatebird in the waters off Brava Island rekindles hopes for its conservation in the Cape Verdean archipelago, long considered extinct, according to the Associação Projecto Vitó.
The “exciting” sighting, according to the Associação Projecto Vitó magazine, occurred last August when a fisherman from the island and member of the “Guardians of the Sea” program recorded the observation of a female of this species.
According to the informative magazine, distributed on Tuesday, the last known record of a frigatebird in Cape Verde dated back to April 2023, when an immature female was observed on the islet of Raso.
Since 1998, the year in which the last offspring of the species was recorded on the islet of Curral Velho, there have been no signs of reproduction of the frigatebird, a species that nests exclusively in Cape Verde in West Africa.
From that date onwards, the magazine of the Associação Projecto Vitó indicates that only rare sightings have been recorded, the previous known sighting being in 2016, involving two females.
The August record is particularly relevant because it demonstrates that the species continues to use Cape Verdean waters, even if sporadically, opening up the possibility of future visits or even a potential recolonization.
“Each new observation represents a victory for science and conservation, reflecting the valuable contribution of the Guardians of the Sea, whose daily commitment is essential for the protection of Cape Verdean biodiversity,” the magazine points out.
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