The world’s oldest identified wild hen has laid an egg on the approximate age of 74, US biologists say.
Knowledge, a Laysan albatross, was filmed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) on the Halfway Atoll nationwide wildlife refuge within the Pacific Ocean along with her newest associate taking care of the egg.
Members of the species often solely stay for 12-40 years, however Knowledge was tagged in 1956 when she was about 5.
Her final offspring hatched in 2021. She is believed to have had greater than 30 chicks in her lifetime.
The USFWS stated on X that Knowledge was with a brand new associate this yr and that her earlier associate Akeakamai had not been seen for a number of years.
The species typically mates for all times however she is already thought to have outlived no less than three mates.
Jon Plissner, supervisory wildlife biologist on the refuge, instructed BBC Radio 4’s In the present day programme that Knowledge was certainly one of two to 3 million Laysan albatrosses who journey to Halfway to breed.
He stated biologists had been unaware of some other birds even near her age, the oldest being 45.
“It is actually been outstanding,” he stated. “Knowledge appears to pique the curiosity of individuals internationally. We wait annually with bated breath for her return.”
He stated Knowledge nonetheless appeared to have the vitality and instincts to lift one other chick, and that there was a 70-80% probability of the egg hatching.
Albatross dad and mom share incubation duties and, as soon as the chick hatches, feeding duties.
Knowledge was first recognized and tagged in 1956 after laying an egg. Laysan albatrosses aren’t identified to breed earlier than the age of 5.
Halfway Atoll is a part of the Hawaiian archipelago however doesn’t fall inside the US state of Hawaii and is described as an unincorporated territory of the US.
The wildlife refuge is residence to the biggest colony of albatross on the planet.