Long after the dodo vanished into history, one of its closest living relatives is quietly rewriting the extinction story on some of the most remote islands in the Pacific.
Often described as a distant cousin of the infamous Dodo, the Nicobar pigeon has survived where many island birds have not. With shimmering iridescent feathers and a powerful build, the species stands as a living reminder of a lineage once devastated by human expansion.
A Survivor in Isolation
The Nicobar pigeon inhabits scattered islands across the eastern Indian Ocean and western Pacific. Unlike the dodo, which disappeared in the 17th century after human arrival on Mauritius, this relative has managed to endure thanks largely to geographic isolation.
Small, forested islands with limited human settlement have acted as natural refuges. There, the birds nest on offshore islets and forage in dense coastal forests, avoiding many of the predators that wiped out other flightless island species.
Why It Matters
Island birds are among the most extinction-prone animals on Earth. With limited ranges and low reproductive rates, even minor environmental disruptions can push populations toward collapse.
Conservationists say the Nicobar pigeon’s survival offers valuable lessons. Unlike the dodo, it retained strong flight ability, allowing it to move between islands and escape localized threats. That mobility has proven critical in a region increasingly affected by habitat loss and climate-driven sea level rise.
Fragile but Fighting
Despite its resilience, the species is not entirely safe. Habitat degradation, hunting pressures, and invasive predators remain ongoing risks. Rising ocean levels also threaten low-lying nesting sites.
Wildlife experts stress that “defying extinction” does not mean secure. Rather, it highlights how narrow the margin can be between survival and disappearance for island ecosystems.
In a world where biodiversity loss continues at alarming speed, this distant relative of the dodo represents both a warning and a symbol of hope proof that with the right conditions, some species can endure against the odds.
