Only 100–500 left: Why the Timor green pigeon is disappearing

The Timor green pigeon, a forest-dwelling bird exclusive to Timor, Rote and nearby islands in eastern Indonesia and Timor-Leste, is teetering on the brink of extinction, with only 100–500 mature individuals remaining, according to a new study. The species is likely facing a more dire situation than previously estimated, with researchers suggesting its IUCN Red List status should be upgraded from Endangered to Critically Endangered.

The decline is particularly pronounced in Indonesia, where the species may already be functionally extinct, with only six sightings recorded in the country since the turn of the century. Wildlife photographer and environmentalist Indrajit Ghorpade attributes the pigeon's decline to the pervasive impact of human activity, describing it as yet another victim of habitat destruction, hunting, and a lack of conservation awareness.

Ghorpade emphasizes that the species' breeding population is already under severe pressure, with a critically low number of healthy breeding individuals and an increasingly fragmented habitat further exacerbating its plight. He believes that conservation efforts must go beyond mere protection and require a profound shift in human attitudes towards the environment.