Waldrapp Knubbel inspires investigators – and is then illegally shot

Scientists from a special species protection program are mourning the loss of a special young bird. As experts announced on the Internet, a young northern bald ibis first achieved great things, then it was shot.

In the ‘Life’ project, ten partners from four countries are working together on the reintroduction of northern bald ibises in Europe. The bird disappeared from Central Europe in the 17th century due to excessive hunting. Now there are populations again and pairs of northern bald ibis are breeding again at Lake Constance.

Last summer, a female northern bald ibis was hatched, which scientists from Switzerland, Germany, Austria and Italy named Knubbel. The researchers provided the young bird with a GPS transmitter and were able to track its path during autumn migration.

During the winter in northern Italy, Knubbel lost contact with his kind. Something like this can happen: as the researchers write, unaccompanied young northern bald ibises usually follow a southwesterly course and fly until at some point they reach Andalusia and reconnect.

In Cuddly’s case, scientists had great hope because the bird achieved remarkable things. “Its incredible achievements have turned this bird into a personality,” reads the northern ibis project page. Knubbel left the Italian mainland between Genoa and La Spezia on December 15 and rested in Corsica in the evening after a flight of 470 kilometers.

The next day, the record day, started at 9am. Cuddy flew non-stop 760 kilometers across the Mediterranean, north past Menorca and Mallorca, and on and on until finally, long after sunset, an oil platform appeared just off the coast of mainland Spain. “It is the longest daily flight distance ever documented for a northern bald ibis,” the scientists said with fascination. But: “Unfortunately, Knubbel’s record flight comes to a sad end.”

After the bird spent the next few days in the region around the Spanish town of Calanda in the Aragon region, the GPS data suddenly indicated an injury and ultimately death, according to the researchers.

Regional wildlife officials finally tracked down and found Knubbel. “A forensic investigation determined death by shooting,” the text continues. “Knubbel is the first American bald ibis from our population in Spain that has been shot illegally. “Unfortunately, the case tragically shows that illegal bird hunting is a major threat to biodiversity, and not just in Italy.”

The case of poaching will definitely be reported. “We hope for investigations by the Spanish judiciary and support from the Spanish hunting associations.”