Science Watch

An American woodpecker, believed extinct for 50 years, has turned up on film - alive and well and living in Arkansas.

The Ivory Billed Woodpecker was America’s largest woodpecker, but was believed to have died out. The destruction of its natural habitat for logging is one reason for its decline.

However, David Luneau of the University of Arkansas caught a fleeting image of a mysterious bird on his camcorder, while kayaking. Later identification shows it could only be the once extinct bird.

The brief footage can be found here: Ivory Billed Woodpecker sighting

This is great news, and what is even better is that the logging that once threatened it has long since finished.

Scientists hope that there may be breeding birds still alive in the extensive flooded woodlands, but need to find out just how many of America’s largest woodpecker remain alive and protect them - after all, the bird on the film could even be the last one of its kind, but hopefully not.

It’s not everyone who has a Great Wite Shark.

However, Monterey Bay Aquarium in California did have one - but after six months have finally decided to release theirs into the wild.

Fishermen had accidentally caught the female great white last year, and donated it to the aquarium, who tried hard to set aside a large tank for her use.

However, after damaging her nose against the glass walls, and killing two smaller sharks in the same tank, officials decided she was suffering stress and needed to be re-released.

The shark will be returned to the Pacific Ocean. A special transmitter will also be attached, which will stay with her for 30 days, recording her movements, before naturally falling off.

Source: California aquarium releases captive, but resolves to get another