Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
<strong>EEP</strong> STUDBOOK CROWNED PIGEONS<br />
The adult plumage is never replaced by a different type of plumage. Deformed, unpigmented<br />
or otherwise abnormal feathers may, however be produced at any moult as a result of<br />
defective metabolism due to sickness, injury of unsuitable diet. One of the most common<br />
manifestations of this is the induced melanism, which occurs quite regular in wild crowned<br />
<strong>pigeon</strong>s, even although the birds seem to be in good condition.<br />
Status and threats in the wild<br />
Little is known about their status in the wild. Because of the impenetrable swampy rainforest,<br />
where the crowned <strong>pigeon</strong>s occur and the low population density in those areas, it is expected<br />
that there are not very much direct threats to crowned <strong>pigeon</strong>s and that they are reasonable<br />
safe. There are no estimates about the <strong>number</strong> of crowned <strong>pigeon</strong>s in the wild.<br />
Because of their current status of protection in Europe, and because of their attractiveness by<br />
aviculturists (Van Rijn, 1996), crowned <strong>pigeon</strong>s are offered on a regular base by brokers. The<br />
prices are not very low, but this won't be an insuperable problem for the majority of the<br />
people interested in acquiring these birds. At the moment (data March 1998) the price for a<br />
pair of Goura cristata is Hfl. 6.500 (US $ 3.250), Hfl. 7.700 (US $ 3.850) for a pair of Goura<br />
victoria and a pair of Goura scheepmakeri is Hfl. 8.000 (US $ 4.000) worth (Verhoeven,<br />
1998). In the early 90's hundreds of crowned <strong>pigeon</strong>s were found at brokers in Singapore and<br />
Indonesia to be transported to Europe (King and Nijboer, 1994).<br />
<strong>Crowned</strong> <strong>pigeon</strong>s already disappeared from areas with a higher population density, like the<br />
Southeast of New Guinea (King and Nijboer, 1996). Because of the economic developments<br />
and the high population growth, it is expected that the rainforest will disappear rapidly in the<br />
next decades, and in the near future the habitat for crowned <strong>pigeon</strong>s will decline just as fast<br />
(Wetzel, 1992).<br />
Furthermore, the indegeous people hunt for crowned <strong>pigeon</strong>s, because of the meat and the<br />
feathers, while young birds are being kept as pets (King and Nijboer, 1994). Unfortunately<br />
they are very good eating and the feathers including the crown are prized for ceremonial headdresses<br />
(Mackay, 1987). These activities take place for centuries and it is only for their own<br />
use. But the population is growing very rapidly and all these people need to be fed.<br />
Furthermore is the availability of guns a disaster for all faunas in NG. Since 1995 it is<br />
forbidden in Papua New Guinea to buy or sell weapons, because of the high crime rate. Only<br />
the people, who had already a gun, are able to buy bullets. The indegeous people are very<br />
angry about this decision, but for the wildlife this is very fortunate.<br />
<strong>Crowned</strong> <strong>pigeon</strong>s can probably be seen as "the dodo of the 21st century", because the way<br />
crowned <strong>pigeon</strong>s can be shot nowadays is comparable to the way in which dodos disappeared<br />
form Mauritius in the 18th century. For example, the cristata crowned <strong>pigeon</strong>s in Irian Jaya<br />
have the habit to congregate at the water. They are very easy to catch with big nets.<br />
Furthermore they only fly into a tree when it is absolutely necessary and then they must take<br />
such great pains to balance on the branch that it is very easy to shoot them (Rand and Gilliard,<br />
1967).<br />
117
Change language