The First of its Kind: The Hawaii Wildlife Center

Linda Elliott with an endangered Laysan Duck, only found on Laysan Island in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.

Linda Elliott of the Hawaii Wildlife Center was the guest speaker at this month’s “Talk Story Program” at Pu`ukohola Heiau National Historic Site. This new center, which is committed to the principles of science-based conservation will begin operation this year. The Center is currently being constructed in Kapa`au on the Island of Hawai`i. The Hawai‘i Wildlife Center is dedicated to the conservation and recovery of Hawai‘i’s native wildlife through hands–on treatment, research, training, science education and cultural programs.

During this program, the audience learned about how the Hawai‘i Wildlife Center will provide the best achievable medical and husbandry care for reported sick, orphaned, injured, and endangered native wildlife, including those affected by natural and man-made disasters. Giving examples of how such efforts have succeed in other places around the globe, she talked about how this organization will help to restore threatened populations by returning rescued animals to the wild.

Linda Elliott spoke of the vital mission of the Hawaii Wildlife Center in conserving the endemic bird life of the Hawaiian Islands.

Serving all Hawaiian Islands, the Hawai‘i Wildlife Center will participate in state disaster preparedness efforts by supplying trained, experienced aid workers during a major disease outbreak such as avian botulism or after contaminant and oil spill incidents. According to Linda Elliott, the vast majority of wildlife treated at this center will be waterbirds and seabirds. They include Nene (Hawaiian geese), Koloa maoli (Hawaiian ducks), migratory ducks, ‘Alae ke‘oke‘o (Hawaiian Coot), ‘Alae ‘ula (Common Moorhen), Ae‘o (Hawaiian Stilt), terns, shearwaters, boobies, albatrosses and other seabirds. She also talked about how, less frequently, this organization will treat forest birds and birds of prey — ‘Io (Hawaiian hawks) and Pueo (Hawaiian owls) and that they will occasionally be able to treat turtles and Hawaiian hoary bats.

If you would like more information about the Hawaii Wildlife Center, visit their website: http://www.hawaiiwildlifecenter.org/

The Hawaii Wildlife Center will be the first organization of its kind in the State of Hawai`i.