Extinct for 100 Years, Rare Bird Rediscovered in Indonesia

Researchers have successfully documented the blue-fronted lorikeet during an expedition to Buru Island, Indonesia, a species that had been missing from scientific records for almost 100 years. Previously, the bird was only known from a handful of specimens and a single photograph taken in 2014. During a 14-day trip to the Mount Kapalatmada region in April 2026, a group of observers managed to spot two of the rare birds. “We saw two small birds fly into a nearby tree, so I grabbed my binoculars to see what they were. I was delighted to realise it was the blue-fronted lorikeet,” explained John C. Mittermeier, Director of the Lost Birds programme. The team also succeeded in recording the bird’s call for the first time. Despite its name, the blue-fronted lorikeet is predominantly bright green with an orange beak. Conservationists warn that the species’ survival is threatened by deforestation and mining activity in the region. Benny A. Siregar, Maluku Coordinator for Burung Indonesia, noted that the rare sightings suggest a very restricted habitat use. Sumaraja, a tour leader with Birdtour Asia, expressed hope that the discovery would encourage greater efforts to preserve the island’s remaining forests.