The slaty-masked tinamou, formally named Tinamus resonans, was identified in the remote Serra do Divisor mountains on the border of Brazil and Peru. Ornithologists have drawn parallels between this bird and the dodo, which became extinct in the 17th century after humans arrived on the island of Mauritius. Similar to the dodo’s plight, the tinamou’s lack of fear towards humans could contribute to its rapid disappearance if current threats are not mitigated. The discovery of this bird is significant, as it is the first new small forest tinamou species in 75 years, making it a remarkable find for scientists and conservationists alike.
A Tame Bird in a Vulnerable Habitat
The slaty-masked tinamou stands out for its lack of fear of human presence. Researchers spent three years in the Serra do Divisor mountains, listening for its distinctive call before finally observing the bird in the wild. When they did, they were surprised by its behavior: the bird wandered calmly through the forest understory, showing no signs of being frightened by the researchers. According to Luis Morais, the lead author of the study and doctoral candidate at the Museu Nacional of Rio de Janeiro, the bird’s behavior closely mirrors accounts of the extinct dodo.
The species’ entire known range is restricted to a narrow elevation band above 1,000 feet in the isolated mountain range. This specific habitat, an ecological “sky island,” is surrounded by the vast Amazon rainforest, making the slaty-masked tinamou highly vulnerable to external threats. The bird’s population is estimated at just 2,000 individuals, making it one of the rarest and most specialized species in the region. Scientists worry that any disruption to its habitat could lead to the species’ rapid decline, a fate that has been faced by countless other species in the Amazon.
Threats From Human Activity
The survival of the slaty-masked tinamou faces numerous challenges, the most pressing being the encroachment of human activity into its remote habitat. The Serra do Divisor region, though largely untouched, is at risk from infrastructure projects. A proposed highway between Brazil and Peru, along with a transcontinental railway, could destroy the bird’s fragile environment. The Brazilian government has also considered downgrading the Serra do Divisor National Park’s protection status to allow for economic development, including mining.
Human activity is not limited to land development. In nearby areas, tinamous are hunted for food by local communities, which poses a further risk to the species. The slaty-masked tinamou’s unguarded behavior makes it especially susceptible to hunting, as it does not recognize humans as potential predators. Without urgent conservation measures, these threats could push the species toward extinction, much like what happened to the dodo centuries ago.
The Importance of Immediate Conservation
The discovery of Tinamus resonans has raised alarms among conservationists who emphasize the need for immediate action to protect the species. According to Diego Mendes, an environmental analyst at the Chico Mendes Institute for Conservation and Biodiversity (ICMBio), the institute is actively working to monitor and protect the region. This includes assessing the slaty-masked tinamou’s official conservation status and devising strategies based on ongoing studies.
Conservation experts highlight that the slaty-masked tinamou, due to its limited range and specialized habitat, is particularly sensitive to climate change. Any shifts in temperature or precipitation could alter its habitat, further increasing its extinction risk. In this fragile ecosystem, even small disruptions could have devastating effects on its survival. Scientists agree that a concerted effort to preserve both the bird and its habitat is crucial in the coming years, or the world may lose another species forever.