Five ‘alalā, also known as Hawaiian crows, have been released into the forests of Maui for the first time. Hatched and prepared for release by the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance at the Keauhou and Maui Bird Conservation Centers, the release of the ‘alalā on Maui marks a key milestone in the ongoing conservation effort to restore this intelligent and charismatic species to its natural forest habitat. “It means a lot to me to care for the ‘alalā,” said Keanini Aarona, avian recovery specialist at Maui Bird Conservation Center. “To me, and in my culture, the ‘alalā are like our ancestors—our kūpuna. The forest wouldn’t be there without these birds.” The ‘alalā, or Hawaiian crow, has been extinct in the wild since 2002 and is the last surviving species of Hawaiian crow. Once found on Hawai‘i Island, they face threats like habitat loss, predation, and disease from introduced species, according to San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.