Розовый голубь Маврикия: от исчезновения к восстановлению.

Species of bird

The pink pigeon (Nesoenas mayeri) is a species of pigeon in the family Columbidae endemic to Mauritius. The pink pigeon nearly became extinct in the 1970s and the 1990s and is still very rare. It is the only Mascarene pigeon that has not become extinct. It was on the brink of extinction in 1991 when only 10 individuals remained, but its numbers have increased due to the efforts of the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust since 1977. While the population remains at below 500 birds as of 2011, the IUCN downlisted the species from Critically endangered to Endangered on the IUCN Red List in 2000, and then downlisted it again to Vulnerable in 2018.

Initially classified as a true pigeon, the pink pigeon was reclassified in a monotypic genus by Tommaso Salvadori. Recent DNA analyses suggest its nearest relative is the geographically close Malagasy turtle dove (Streptopelia picturatus), and it has thus been suggested that it be placed in the genus Streptopelia, which mostly contains turtle doves. However, the two species form a distinct group that cannot unequivocally be assigned to either Streptopelia or Columba, and placing both species in Nesoenas may best reflect the fact that they seem to belong to a distinct evolutionary lineage. This classification has been followed here. The extinct Réunion pink pigeon is now considered a subspecies.

An adult pink pigeon is about from beak to tail and 350 grams in weight. Pink pigeons have pale pinkish grey plumage on their head, shoulders and underside, along with pink feet. The beak is a dark pink color with a white tip. They have dark brown wings, and a broad, rust colored tail. Their eyes are dark brown surrounded by an eye ring of red skin. Newly hatched pigeons have sparse, downy white feathers and closed eyes. The voice of the pink pigeon consists of a flight call that is a short, hardened "hoo hoo". The territorial call of the male pink pigeon is a series of coos. A subspecies, the Réunion pink pigeon, became extinct on the neighbouring Reunion Island around 1700.

The pink pigeon is currently classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN, having been downlisted from Endangered in 2018 and Critically Endangered in 2000. Due to habitat destruction and introduced predators, the population had dropped to 10 in 1991. The captive breeding and reintroduction program initiated and supported by the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust and largely carried out by the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation has resulted in a population of about 400 in the wild in 2018, as well as a healthy captive population as backup.

Habitat degradation, introduced predators, and wildlife disease are the major ongoing threats to the pink pigeon's survival. Only 2% of the native forest remains in Mauritius, with the majority of these remaining forests on upland slopes around the Black River Gorge National Park. Common predators include the crab eating macaque (Macaca fascicularis), the small Asian mongoose (Urva auropunctata), rats, and feral cats. Invasive plant species, such as the Chinese guava and privet, dominate native forest plants, preventing their growth. Without these native plant species, the pink pigeon finds it hard to locate sound nesting locations or food sources. Extreme weather events such as cyclones may also further the degradation of habitat. The feeding stations that provide supplementary feed may accelerate the spread of disease between individuals, who congregate at greater than normal numbers at stations. This may apply to trichomonosis, originally brought to Mauritius by introduced pigeons. An ongoing concern faced by the pink pigeon, as by many endangered species that exist in small remnant populations, is inbreeding depression. Mauritius has published a series of postage stamps depicting the pink pigeon.