Proposal to down-list the Critically Endangered Amsterdam Albatross gets postponed

The ACAP-listed Amsterdam Albatross Diomedea amsterdamensis breeds only on Amsterdam Island in the southern Indian Ocean.  Since 1994 it has been listed as Critically Endangered.

Following a review the BirdLife International Threatened Seabird Forum has proposed down-listing the threatened species to Endangered due to a “steadily increasing” population (click here).

Amsterdam Albatross, photograph by Scott Shaffer

However, following expert comment arguing for retaining its current threatened status, BirdLife has now proposed that a decision on down-listing will be postponed, allowing for continued discussion into 2017, while leaving the current Red List category of Critically Endangered for the Amsterdam Albatross in place.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 08 December 2016