Life Rabiche
The Project
One of the main objectives of this project is the creation of a viable population of rabiche pigeons on Gran Canaria.
Reintroduction of the Columba junoniae, the white-tailed laurel pigeon, on the island of Gran Canaria.
The main aim of the project Life+laurel pigeon is to create a laurel-pigeon population on Gran Canaria. This endemic species that went extinct on Gran Canaria shall be reintroduced on the island. It existed at the same time as the Canary aborigines and although there are no ornithological records, it probably survived until a century ago. Another of the project's central goals is the regeneration of the laurisilva forests on Gran Canaria.
One of the key elements of this European Project, led by the Council of Gran Canaria and supported by Gesplan and the Heredad de Aguas de Arucas y Firgas, will be to involve the local population by asking them to participate and informing them of all its mid- and long-term socio-economic benefits. Special mention must also be made of the collaboration with the University of La Laguna and particularly the scientific director of the project, Dr. Aurelio Martín Hidalgo.
Thanks to his expertise it was possible to design specific facilities for breeding the laurel pigeon, as well as a protocol for breeding this species in captivity. The collaboration of the Council of La Palma has also been paramount.
Last but not least, the personnel and the facilities have been key for the successful breeding in captivity and the survival of eggs and wild chicks of the laurel pigeon.
Objectives
The creation of a viable population of laurel pigeons on the island of Gran Canaria: this constitutes the main objective of this project, which requires the reintroduction of this species, endemic to the island, where human activity extirpated it at the end of the 19th Century.
Thus arises the need to increase its range by promoting measures to restore and increase the laurisilva forests on the island of Gran Canaria.
The regeneration, expansion and improvement of the laurel forest habitat on Gran Canaria. In order to ensure the stability of the laurel pigeon population on a long-term basis and its expansion within its potential range on the island, the laurisilva habitats shall need to be increased, improved and interconnected.
The promotion among the local population of the environmental and socio-economical importance of regenerating and expanding laurisilva forests on the island, as well as all flora and fauna inhabiting them. In order to complete the laurel pigeon reintroduction and the expansion and improvement of the laurel forests successfully, the local population needs to be involved in the project. People will need to be motivated to participate and informed about its socio-economic benefits.
