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The Wildlife Dating Game: Playing Cupid to Save a Species

Making a Love Connection, Pairing With Multiple Mates Could be Keys to Saving the Critically Endangered ‘Alalā, According to a New Study

SAN DIEGO (Feb. 14, 2024) – It's a match! In the world of conservation, pairing a perfect couple is more than just a romantic endeavor; it could be the key to saving an endangered species.

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance (SDZWA) is playing Cupid for the critically endangered ‘alalā, a unique bird found only in Hawai‘i. In a new, unconventional study recently published in the journal Animal Conservation, SDZWA scientists hoping to hone their matchmaking skills applied personality traits to these crow relatives to find love connections to result in successfully fertilized eggs.

Personality profiles for 69 male and 59 female ‘alalā were crafted based on 22 traits, including curiosity, flexibility, and even quirks such as feather plucking. The study found that when it comes to ‘alalā, the adage that opposites attract is a match for successful mating outcomes. When the males were more aggressive, territorial and fearful than their female counterparts, the pairs were more likely to produce fertilized eggs.

"Unlike most of our scientific analyses, this study relied on caretakers' opinions to determine birds’ personalities,” said Dr. Alison Flanagan, a researcher in recovery ecology at SDZWA. “In a way, we created a dating app for ‘alalā to inform our breeding process. By ‘swiping right’ on these birds, we're hoping to up the odds for breeding success and give love a chance in a species teetering on the brink of extinction.”

While these traits didn't result in improved nest quality or hatch rates, the study suggests that birds with contrasting personality traits may get along better, potentially leading to more successful breeding. This study is one of four new papers published by SDZWA, all aimed at returning the ‘alalā to the wild where they are currently extinct. The State of Hawai’i Department of Land and Natural Resources – Division of Forestry and Wildlife, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) are planning a pilot release of ʻalalā on Maui. 

A related paper published this month in the journal Frontiers in Conservation Science revealed that it's not the duration of the relationship that counts, but the age of the birds that determines breeding success. Data on ‘alalā breeding from 2018 to 2021 was used to explore caretakers’ decisions about whether to keep pairs together. If pairs aren’t producing offspring, should they be left alone and allowed to keep trying or given a shot at a new mate? In the past, caretakers were concerned that divorcing pairs would mean starting from scratch with a new mate, but the findings showed that there was no reproductive penalty associated with breaking up couples and repairing them. This means the recovery effort could do well by setting up ‘alalā on more blind dates, focusing on compatibility rather than their relationship history.

Still, in any successful relationship, strong bonds do matter, and when it comes to ‘alalā, strengthening relationship-building skills may be essential to the birds’ survival when they are eventually reintroduced to the wild. A third paper published in a recent issue of Zoo Biology showed how scientists changed their approach to caring for ‘alalā to focusing on helping them behave like they would in their natural habitat. Methods include identifying bird pairs that want to spend more time together to strengthen their bonds, encouraging them to build their own nests and allowing the mothers to incubate the eggs naturally.

A fourth paper published in the January issue of Conservation Science and Practice investigated ways to better manage ‘alalā after release into the wild by changing where they are offered supplemental food. Published in the January issue of Conservation Science and Practice, it revealed that the birds were quicker to find feeders in closed, canopied habitats than open areas, which could be a game-changer in transitioning the birds back to the forest. The study also showed that moving feeders in the forest can be used as a tool to guide the birds’ use of space in a novel environment, to get them to explore and learn about the forest while having reliable access to food.

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About San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance 
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, a nonprofit conservation leader, inspires passion for nature and collaboration for a healthier world. The Alliance supports innovative conservation science through global partnerships. Through wildlife care, science expertise and collaboration, more than 44 endangered species have been reintroduced to native habitats. Annually, the Alliance reaches over 1 billion people, in person at the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park, and virtually in 150 countries through media channels, including San Diego Zoo Wildlife Explorers television programming in children’s hospitals in 14 countries. Wildlife Allies—members, donors and guests—make success possible.