Príncipe Island
Unfortunately, the new owl is already in danger. The species is confined to just 3,700 acres, or less than 6 square miles—an area about four times the size of Central Park. Its range lies entirely within the old growth forests of Príncipe Obô Natural Park on the island, and a section of its habitat is set to be affected by a planned dam construction.
Based on its small range on a single island and the limited number of individuals (1,000 to 1,500), the researchers proposed that the new species should be listed as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature in a companion study published in the journal Bird Conservation International.
It’s good news that the owl lives in an already protected park, said Melo. But that protection must continue—for the newly described owl species but also for the wider ecosystem, he added. In addition to Otus bikegila, Príncipe is home to other species found nowhere else in the world.
