When 131 stray cats were cleared from Japan’s remote Ogasawara Islands, no one expected to witness an ecological miracle. In just three years, a critically endangered pigeon multiplied its numbers tenfold. Against all odds, these rare birds defied genetics and brought themselves back from the edge of extinction.
Published last August in Communications Biology, this study reveals one of the most astonishing recoveries in modern conservation. The red-headed pigeon of the Ogasawara Islands—an endemic species once nearly lost—showed remarkable genetic strength after its main predators were removed. Conducted by Kyoto University, the research challenges long-held assumptions about endangered species and opens new doors for biodiversity protection.
A rare island bird facing extinction
The red-headed pigeon (Columba janthina nitens), about 16 inches long, is easy to spot with its reddish head and dusky brown-grey body. It’s a distinct subspecies, both genetically and ecologically, from Japan’s more common wood pigeon.
Once thriving across the Ogasawara Islands, its population began to crash in the late 20th century. Habitat loss and the arrival of feral cats pushed it to the brink. By 2008, fewer than 80 birds remained, and extinction seemed inevitable.
The Ogasawara archipelago—an isolated Pacific chain and UNESCO World Heritage site—has long hosted an extraordinarily delicate ecosystem. But the introduction of invasive species upset that balance, threatening the region’s unique natural heritage.
In 2008, fewer than 80 red-headed pigeons remained on the Ogasawara Islands, but the removal of the main predators of this rare bird species helped save it. © tororo, iStock
A rescue mission built on cat control
Faced with an ecological crisis, conservationists launched a major cat-trapping campaign in 2010 on Chichijima Island. The mission focused on removing feral cats that were preying on the pigeons.
Over just three years, between 2010 and 2013, the team captured 131 wild cats, cutting their population to fewer than twenty. With the predators mostly gone, the pigeons began to thrive again.
The turnaround was astonishing. In that same short period, the adult pigeon count jumped from 111 to 966, while young birds soared from 9 to 189. It was one of the fastest and most dramatic wildlife recoveries ever recorded.
The genetic puzzle behind resilience
Ordinarily, small populations suffer from inbreeding and harmful mutations that slow or even prevent recovery. But the red-headed pigeon proved to be a genetic exception.
Led by scientist Daichi Tsujimoto, researchers sequenced the genomes of both wild and captive birds to investigate. To their surprise, the species carried far fewer damaging mutations than its relatives—a genetic advantage that helped it bounce back.
This strength stems from a process called “genetic purging.” Over centuries of isolation, the pigeons’ small population gradually weeded out harmful genes through limited inbreeding, leaving behind a leaner, healthier genetic foundation.
The team pinpointed several factors behind this resilience:
Long-term geographic isolation that strengthened natural selection
A small but historically stable population
Gradual loss of harmful alleles
Preservation of essential genetic diversity
Lessons for the future of conservation
Even with this remarkable recovery, the species’ situation remains delicate. Its population is still below historical levels, and limited diversity could make it vulnerable to environmental changes. Still, the red-headed pigeon’s comeback challenges traditional thinking about endangered species.
It shows that under certain conditions, small populations can evolve adaptive tools to survive near-extinction events. The research also highlights how genetic analysis can help identify species with a natural edge in survival—insight that could shape future conservation strategies.
The story of the red-headed pigeon of Ogasawara is a hopeful reminder that targeted human action, backed by science, can turn the tide for endangered wildlife when nature itself has the genetic strength to fight back.
