Takutea Wildlife Sanctuary


IBA Justification

The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2012 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species') at the site:
Species Red List Season (year[s] of estimate) Size IBA criteria
Red-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon rubricauda LC breeding (1989) 2,000 nests A4ii

IBA Conservation

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2012. The most recent assessment (2018) is shown below.

IBA conservation assessment
Year of assessment State Pressure Response
2018 not assessed high medium
Whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
yes unset medium

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat Timing Scope Severity Result
Invasive and other problematic species and genes happe­ning now whole of popul­ation/area (>90%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) high
Climate change and severe weather likely in long term (>4 years) whole of popul­ation/area (>90%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) medium
Biological resource use happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) no or slight decline (<1% over 3 gener­ations) low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Designation Planning Action Result
Most of area (50–90%) covered (including the most critical parts for important bird species) A compre­hensive and appropriate management plan exists that aims to maintain or improve the populations of qualifying bird species Some limited conservation initiatives are in place medium

IBA Protection

Year Protected Area Designation (management category) % coverage of IBA
1950 Takutea Other Area (II) 94


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Takutea Wildlife Sanctuary (Cook Islands). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/takutea-wildlife-sanctuary-iba-cook-islands on 05/12/2024.