Trust aid for endangered species

The species was thought extinct until 24 were discovered

Staff from a wildlife conservation sanctuary are to travel from their Gloucestershire base to Madagascar to help save a rare bird.

The Madagascar pochard was thought to be extinct until recently when 24 birds were discovered on a small lake in a remote area.

Staff from the Wildlife and Wetlands Trust at Slimbridge are to help.

A trust spokesman said it was hoped to establish a conservation breeding programme to help the duck's survival.

Nigel Jarrett said: "The entire world population of Madagascar pochard probably numbers fewer than 30 birds, all restricted to just one site.

"The World Wildlife Trust plans to use our extensive experience of rearing endangered species here at Slimbridge to set up a breeding facility in Madagascar.

"We will secure eggs from the wild to act as a safety net. From these, we can establish a healthy population in captivity and, in time, these will be released back into the wild on suitable sites."