Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF – Fri-Yay/Good News

~ John W. Howell
Today’s good news story comes from the BBC and was sent to me by our world-at-large reporter, Noelle Granger. 
Thanks, Noelle

Rare duck breeding success gives hope for species

Emily Johns, Channel Islands
Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust
The Madagascar pochard is one of the world’s most threatened waterbirds

Six of the world’s rarest ducks have reached adulthood after conservationists successfully raised them from eggs collected in the wild.

The Madagascar pochards were hatched after their eggs were carried 44km (27 miles) on foot before being taken to a specialist breeding center in Madagascar. The species was once thought to be extinct before being rediscovered in 2006.

The Jersey-based Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust carried out the work, which it said gave scientists another way to protect the species when nests were threatened.

Roland Digby, a conservation biologist at Durrell, said: “This is an important milestone for the Madagascar pochard.”

Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust Five brown and beige ducks, sat in a row next to a pool with some crumbs around them. They have large webbed feet and light grey coloured beaks.Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust
The ducks are also called the fotsimaso locally

The trust said the breakthrough could be particularly important because the Madagascar pochard survived at just one known wild nesting site worldwide.

Digby said: “We’ve shown that, when conditions demand it, we can safely collect eggs from the wild, transport them on foot and successfully incubate and rear healthy birds.”

The six birds hatched from 15 fertile eggs collected at Lake Matsaborimena in north-west Madagascar, with Durrell staff working alongside The Peregrine Fund to collect them.

The eggs were carried in a cooler before being transported to Durrell’s specialist breeding center in Antsohihy in northern Madagascar.

Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust Two freshly hatched ducklings, with bright yellow and brown greasy feathers. They are sat on a rust-orange coloured carpet and have dark purple coloured beaks.Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust
Brewer said recovering a species required “persistence, partnerships and a willingness to keep going when the work becomes difficult”

Since the species’ rediscovery, Durrell said it had led an international recovery program combining habitat restoration, captive breeding and reintroductions.

About 180 birds now exist across captive and wild populations, including 51 at the Durrell breeding center, 82 at Bemanevika and 74 at Lake Sofia.

Durrell chief executive Rebecca Brewer said: “For many people, this is a story about six ducks.

“For us, it’s about what long-term conservation can achieve.”

The good news in this story is that success is not measured in large gains, but in small steps. Today’s JohnKu talks about persistence in conservation. I hope you have a beautiful weekend.

Virtue by John W. Howell © 2026

It is a long road,

To nature conservation . . .

Persistence is key.

71 thoughts on “Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF – Fri-Yay/Good News”

  5. Always love nature “good news” stories. So refreshing to learn of any people out there who are still willing to take these kind of very small steps to achieve big, wonderful things for our world, John.

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  19. These are cute little buggers, I’m glad they’ve got such great people in their corner. Because you’re right, it requires a relentless pursuit to attempt to save a species. Nature is both delicate and ravenous, and so the steps must be walked with that very same determination.

    You did it again Boss

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  23. Pingback: Smorgasbord Reblog – Rare duck breeding success gives hope for species – Reporters John Howell and Noelle Granger | Smorgasbord Blog Magazine

  28. Wonderful!

    Sad it had to get to the point of saving them, but I’m happy it is a happening reality.

    Seems restoring nature is a longer process than destroying it… as noted in the JohnKu.

    Thank you for this John! The ducklings are adorable.

    🐣🦆 🐣🦆

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