There are endangered species. And then there are those whose situation is even more precarious: species that have already disappeared from the wild and whose survival depends exclusively on the work carried out by zoos and conservation centers.
That is the case of the dove of distress, Also known as Zenaida de Socorro (Zenaida graysoni), a species native to the Mexican island of Socorro that is now listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as Extinct in the Wild (EW).
With the arrival of a pair of these specimens, BIOPARC Fuengirola It joins the international program that works to ensure the future of this species and help it to one day return to its natural habitat.
Why is the Socorro dove extinct in the wild?
For thousands of years, the Socorro pigeon evolved in isolation on Socorro Island, a small volcanic territory in the Revillagigedo Archipelago in the Pacific Ocean.
The absence of terrestrial predators allowed the species to thrive for centuries. However, the arrival of humans completely transformed this balance.
The introduction of feral cats and other invasive animals caused a rapid decline in the population until, during the 1970s, the last specimens in the wild disappeared.
Today there is no wild population.
All surviving individuals in the world are part of international conservation programs managed by zoos and specialized institutions.
A species discovered after a shipwreck
The story of the Socorro dove seems straight out of an adventure novel. In 1869, American naturalist Andrew Jackson Grayson was shipwrecked off the coast of Socorro Island during a scientific expedition. It was there that he discovered a small dove previously unknown to science. That species would later be described with the scientific name Zenaida graysoniIn homage to the researcher. More than 150 years later, that bird, discovered almost by chance, has become a symbol of global conservation.
The addition of this pair represents a further step in BIOPARC Fuengirola's commitment to the protection of biodiversity.
Currently, the park participates in more than 40 international conservation programscollaborating with zoos, scientific institutions and organizations around the world to ensure the survival of endangered species.
The presence of the Socorro zealot at BIOPARC Fuengirola will contribute to maintaining a genetically healthy population, which is essential for future reintroduction projects on Socorro Island.
The last hope for some species
When a species disappears from the wild, zoos cease to be merely places to learn about animals and become true conservation centers.
Breeding programs, exchanges of individuals between institutions, scientific research, and environmental education are all part of the daily work that helps prevent the extinction of many species. The story of the Socorro zebra finch is a clear example of this. Thanks to international collaboration between zoos, this bird still exists today and keeps alive the hope of one day returning to the island's forests where it evolved over thousands of years.
At BIOPARC Fuengirola we work every day with that same mission: to protect biodiversity, inspire people and help conserve the most threatened species on the planet.
