Seychelles Parakeet (Palaeornis wardi)
Posted on 31 December, 1900 in Extinct
Year Last Seen:
1900
Comments:
This species was found in the Seychelles, but it is now Extinct as a result of hunting pressure. The last known individuals were shot in 1893, and none were found on a survey in 1906.
Habitat:
It was a forest species, probably feeding on fruit and seeds.
Causes:
Clearance of forest for coconut plantations and shooting and trapping (in particular, to protect maize crops) were the main causes of the species's demise (Forshaw and Cooper 1989).
Distribution:
Psittacula wardi was endemic to Mahé and Silhouette, Seychelles, with a sight record from Praslin. A 'considerable number' were found in 1811, but it was rare by 1867 and the last specimen was shot on Mahé by Abbott in 1893. It may have survived into the 20th century (Skerrett and Disley 2011) although was apparently extinct by the time Nicoll visited the island in 1906 (Lionnet 1984). At least ten specimens exist (Forshaw and Cooper 1989).