After nearly three decades without a confirmed sighting, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has officially declared the Slender-billed Curlew (Numenius tenuirostris) extinct. This announcement marks the first recorded global extinction of a once-common migratory bird that ranged across Europe, North Africa, and West Asia.
The last confirmed observation occurred at Merja Zerga, Morocco, on February 25, 1995. Despite extensive global searches since then, no remaining individuals have been found. Scientists now describe the loss as a “sobering milestone” for bird conservation.
Amy Fraenkel, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), called it “a tragic and sobering moment” that underscores the urgency of stronger international conservation collaboration.
A Once-Widespread Migratory Bird
Historically, the Slender-billed Curlew bred across the Siberian tundra and Kazakh Steppe, migrating south to winter in southern Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. At its peak, the bird was locally common in wetlands across these regions.
Early signs of decline were recorded as far back as 1912, and by the 1940s, scientists feared the species was nearing extinction. By 1988, it was listed as Critically Endangered. As few as 50 birds were estimated to remain when the CMS adopted a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for its conservation in 1994.
Why the Curlew Disappeared
While the precise causes remain uncertain, experts point to a lethal combination of unsustainable hunting, habitat destruction, and agricultural expansion as main drivers.
Its breeding habitats in the Kazakh and Russian steppes were converted into farmland during the Soviet Virgin Lands Campaign in the 1950s. Similarly, wintering wetlands in Morocco, Italy, and Greece were drained or polluted, leaving the species with fewer safe refuges.
There are also reports of intensive hunting across the Mediterranean through the 1980s, further accelerating its decline. Curlew skins and specimens were once sold in European markets, a grim reminder of the pressures these birds faced before stronger protection laws.
The Ecological and Symbolic Loss
The Slender-billed Curlew’s extinction resonates far beyond ornithology. Migratory birds play a crucial ecological role as indicators of wetland health, seed dispersers, and controllers of insect populations.
The loss also highlights weaknesses in global conservation networks. Despite early warnings and multiple protection frameworks under CMS and AEWA (Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds), the decline could not be halted.
“This species served as a sentinel,” stated AEWA Executive Secretary Jacques Trouvilliez. “Its disappearance shows what happens when action is too slow and fragmented.”
Conservation Lessons and Success Stories
While the Curlew’s extinction marks a failure, it also reinforces the proof that effective conservation measures can reverse declines when implemented in time.
For instance, coordinated moves under AEWA and EU policy successfully brought back other waterbird species. The Red Kite was once Near Threatened was downlisted to Least Concern by the IUCN in 2020. This change followed rigorous anti-poisoning campaigns and habitat management. Similarly, the EU’s 2023 ban on lead shot in wetlands is expected to save a significant number of waterbirds. Approximately one million waterbirds will be spared from toxic exposure each year. Such outcomes prove that conservation frameworks do work — but only with sustained funding, science-based action, and global solidarity.
The Role of International Cooperation
The extinction underscores the vital importance of global conservation treaties like CMS and AEWA. Both are designed to coordinate efforts among governments, ecologists, and civil society across migratory routes spanning continents.
Experts argue that these frameworks need full implementation rather than expansion. Political will and resources remain the greatest constraints.
The upcoming AEWA Meeting of the Parties (MOP9) in Bonn, Germany (November 2025) and the CMS Conference of the Parties (COP15) in Campo Grande, Brazil (March 2026) will likely feature strong calls for decisive action. It is crucial to protect other threatened migratory species before it is too late.
Why It Matters
Every extinction represents a disconnection between humanity and nature. The Curlew’s disappearance signals both ecological imbalance and moral failure, experts say.
“The loss of the Slender-billed Curlew is irreversible,” said Nicola Crockford, Chair of the CMS/BirdLife Working Group. “With today’s tools, there is no justification for allowing such preventable losses to occur again.”
Migratory birds face mounting threats from climate change, habitat degradation, pollution, and illegal hunting. Two-thirds of global bird species are now in decline, making proactive, multinational cooperation essential for preventing future collapses.
A Global Call for Vigilance
Although the Slender-billed Curlew’s song has faded forever, its legacy endures as a rallying cry for protecting migratory species that still have a chance. From Arctic terns to African flyway waders, the survival of global birdlife depends on immediate, collective accountability. The Curlew’s extinction serves as a lesson. It is also a warning that delayed conservation is no conservation at all.
As the IUCN’s Red List continues to grow, the story of the Slender-billed Curlew serves as a reminder. It highlights what is truly at stake: not just a species, but the shared heritage of Earth’s living sky.