Written off as extinct in the wild, Hawaii's crows just weathered a tropical storm — and claimed their forest

The ʻalalā, Hawaii's native crow, vanished from the wild and survived only in human care. A small flock released on Maui has now done something conservators hardly dared hope: it rode out a Kona low storm, Tropical Storm Lala and weeks of flooding weather, and came through feeding, calling and holding territory like birds that own the place. That territorial confidence is exactly why the multi-agency team has paused plans to add two more birds — the flock is maturing on its own. Partners are now scouting further Maui release sites and preparing a return to Hawaiʻi Island. As team leader Alison Mounce puts it, recovery has entered 'a strong and hopeful phase.'

SDG 15 · Life on land — Mechanism: institutional program