What was the Largest Population of Red-moustached Fruit-Dove at Once?

The Red-moustached Fruit-Dove (Ptilinopus mercierii), also known as the Marquesas Fruit Dove, was a species native to the Marquesas Islands in French Polynesia. Sadly, this species is now extinct.

Population History:

• Historical Abundance: There is limited detailed historical data on the exact population numbers at any given time. The Red-moustached Fruit-Dove was likely never particularly abundant due to its restricted range. Like many island species, it had a limited habitat, which naturally restricted its population size.
• Decline and Extinction: The species’ decline was primarily due to habitat destruction, hunting, and the introduction of invasive species such as rats and cats. These factors led to a rapid population decrease in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The last confirmed sightings of the Red-moustached Fruit-Dove were in the 1920s, leading to the species being declared extinct.

Conservation Context:

Unfortunately, specific records on the maximum population size of the Red-moustached Fruit-Dove at its peak are not well-documented in scientific literature. However, it is widely acknowledged that the bird was part of a fragile ecosystem, and its population was likely never large due to the small area of its habitat.

For more detailed historical records or specific studies, consulting ornithological archives or specific studies focused on the Marquesas Islands’ avifauna might be necessary.