600 years ago the White Stork went extinct. The last sighting of them was in Edinburgh in 1416. Over the years there have been efforts to reintroduce them into the world. Recently, a White stork was spotted flying over Chesire, England. Let’s hope a T-rex isn’t next!
Storks Soaring the Skies
Being spotted after 608 years is a big deal. This big return is due to conservation efforts and programs (such as The White Stork Project) put in place over many years. The White Stork lives in wetlands, marshy areas, and watery farmlands. They feast on insects, snakes, and frogs, to name a few. They are known to live close to humans, often nesting on roofs and development areas.
The Winged Masterpiece
The White Stork is large, with a wingspan of about 5ft/152cm and a height of 3.5ft/106cm. With their skinny stork legs and long sharp beak, they are easily identifiable as stork. The thing that differentiates them is the amount of black on their wings, more than other storks. All stork species may be similar in looks, but there is always a way to differentiate them.
The Story of Extinction
Just as with many other species, habitat loss was a big contributor to the disappearance of the White Crane. However, in their case, there is a deeper and sader reasons accompanying it. The White Stork was once a common species in Britain, until the English Civil War. During this time they were seen as a rebellion due to Greek mythology stating them as a sign of hope and rebirth. Because of this, they were soon persecuted into extinction.
The White Stork Project
The White Stork Project was established in 2016, with the goal of reintroducing these storks to Britain. They have been slowly reintroducing the White Stork to Southern England, along with bettering the habitat for them whilst helping the ecosystem. The White Stork Project has held talks, fundraisers, and collaborations in order to raise awareness about these beautiful creatures.
The Reintroduction
So how did the reintroduction work? The reintroduction started by bringing in young White Storks, who were bred and raised in Cotswold Wildlife Park, Burford, England. These Juveniles had their wings clipped, preventing them from flying away. The clipping was done to help them stay in the area and make it their home. This continued for 3 years.
A Fresh Start
Once the newly introduced storks got a bit older, their wings were no longer clipped and they could freely fly around and forage for food. Soon nests were built and breeding in the area began. The first successful breed was in 2020, the following year the number increased as 14 new fledglings happily came into the world.
Renewed Hope For Future Animals
The successful reintroduction of the previously extinct White Stork raised hope for past and future endangered animals. With this success, there was a hope that people would be inspired to do more to save the world around us and the beautiful creatures that we are lucky enough to be able to witness.
More Successes of Reintroductions
The White Stork is not the only animal that has been reintroduced into the world after extinction. One of these is the Eurasian Lynx. This wild cat was said to be extinct for the last 200 years. Recently it was reintroduced to various areas, including, Switzerland, Croatia, France, Germany, and Austria. There have been so many successful reintroductions that we are starting to see a light for the future.
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