According to the World Wildlife Fund (WFF), a “lost species” that has been impossible to document for more than half a century has been photographed for the first time in 55 years.
Fiji-based photographer Tom Vierus captured the rare New Britain Sparrowhawk while hiking in the Nakanai Mountains of Papua New Guinea in March.
“I was on a research trip to Pomio with WWF [eastern New Britain]“With three local community members guiding us through the forest, we were able to better understand the presence of the species,” Vierus explained. “I photographed several bird species, including the New Britain Sparrowhawk, but I didn’t realise its importance at the time,” he admitted.
The Red List of Threatened Species classifies the New Britain Sparrowhawk as an Endangered species. As of 2016, the species numbered between 2,500–9,999 “mature individuals”.
According to John Mittermeier, director of the Lost Bird Search at the American Bird Conservancy, the New Britain sparrowhawk has not been documented since 1969. But those documents do not include photographs, making Vierus one of the “first examples of this 'lost species.'” Mittermeier marveled at how the bird “eluded photography, sound and specimen documentation for 55 years.”
Following the recent sighting of the Goshawk, the Papua New Guinea government has asked WWF to increase conservation efforts in the region. “It’s great to see how conservation photography can help protect areas by documenting the biodiversity that exists,” Vierus said, adding that it was “a good reminder of how important visual storytelling is.”