Non-Profit Wants To Revive Extinct Heath Hen On Martha's Vineyard
BOSTON (CBS) – The future of a bird that has been extinct since about 1932 will be the topic of discussion among researchers, conservationists, and interested citizens on Martha's Vineyard Thursday night.
The last of the Heath Hens died off on the island some 80 years ago.
Now, a non-profit organization, Revive and Restore, has put the birds on a list of possible species to revive using DNA… yes, like Jurassic Park.
Thomas French, Assistant Director of the Department of Fish and Wildlife for the State Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program says the bird is an obvious candidate.
"These were things that we are totally responsible for disappearing. A Heath Hen is the most recent of them… so in theory, may be the easiest to deal with - the low hanging fruit in this kind of debate," he told WBZ NewsRadio 1030.
The bird's de-extinction is still far from a reality. The non-profit will unveil its plan for the bird at Thursday's public forum in West Tisbury.
If the idea gets enough support, Revive and Restore would perform a feasibility study.
Bringing the species back into existence would cost a couple million dollars.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Kendall Buhl reports
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