RIP Methuselah
Dane Paijmans(2016-03-23)
In January 2015 we reported on a resighting of "Methuselah" our oldest Great White Pelican (
Pelecanus onocrotalus) (
Safring Report). Sadly Methuselah was reported to us as a recovery on the 26th November 2015. After an autopsy it was established that he/she died of natural causes as there were only post-mortem wounds.
Since Methuselah was initially ringed as a chick in December 1972 he/she has been resighted a total of 16 times, in and around Walvis Bay. As this initial ringing would have been done shortly before fledging (fledging occurs 75 to 85 days after hatching), this final recovery makes Methusalah an estimated 43 years of age. This age falls 27 years short of the oldest known wild bird, as this title belongs to "Wisdom" a Laysan Albatross (
Phoebastria immutabilis) currently breeding at Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge (
Report).
If you feel you know of an older record please contact us at SAFRING with the details.
The photo accompanied by this article is accredited to Mark Boorman.
Taxonomy |
Maximum Longevity |
Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Pelecanidae Genus: Pelecanus |
28 years (Roberts 7) >42 years (SAFRING) |
Species |
Ring Number |
Pelecanus onocrotalus |
H01024 |
Common name |
Sample size |
Great White Pelican |
Ringed: 1189 Retrapped: 119 Recovered: 169 Total: 1477 |