5 Hawaiian Crows Released After Being Declared Extinct in the Wild ArticlePure

The Hawaiian crow is finally returning to its natural habitat.

Over 20 years after being officially deemed extinct in the wild in 2002, five Hawaiian crows were released into Maui forests on Wednesday, Dec. 4, the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance announced in a press release shared with PEOPLE.

Also called ‘alal?, the crows were set free after receiving care from the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance at Keauhou Bird Conservation Center and Maui Bird Conservation Center.

The Hawaiian crow previously faced predators, disease and threats to its habitat, ultimately leading to its extinction label.

Considering the Hawaiian crow’s nearly extinct status, scientists assessed nest quality and how it might relate to egg loss before their reintroduction to the wild. They also analyzed biological samples from the birds and used cameras to track breeding patterns while the Hawaiian crows were in human care.

Further research found that age — not the length of a bird’s relationship — indicates breeding success and post-release feeding practices impact the success of the effort.

The goal behind releasing the five Hawaiian crows is to increase and stabilize the population, the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance said in a press release.

“It means a lot to me to care for the ‘alal?,” said Keanini Aarona, an avian recovery specialist at the Maui Bird Conservation Center. “To me, and in my culture, the ‘alal? are like our ancestors—our k?puna. The forest wouldn’t be there without these birds.”

From 2016 to 2020, a previous effort to release 20 Hawaiian Crows on their home island of Hawai’i saw a decrease in population. Though the birds were able to survive successfully on their own for a few years, scientists ultimately halted the initiative to reintroduce the bird.

Now, the birds have been placed on a different island in the archipelago: Maui.

The Maui release effort will be heavily guided by observations and lessons from the previous release in Hawai’i, according to Megan Owen, Ph.D., Vice President of Conservation Science at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“The translocation of ‘alal? to Maui is a monumental step forward in conserving the species and a testament to the importance of partnership in reversing biodiversity loss,” Owen said.  

The return of the Hawaiian Crows to their home is credited to a collaboration between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the State of Hawai’i Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife, the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and the University of Hawai’i.