Niassa Reserve Hosts World’s Largest Taita Falcon Breeding Population
A new study has confirmed that Mozambique’s Niassa Special Reserve harbours the largest documented breeding population of the rare Taita falcon (Falco fasciinucha), with an estimated 68–76 breeding pairs. Researchers surveyed 35 granite inselbergs in the 4-million-hectare reserve and recorded 14 breeding pairs, using the findings to model population numbers across the entire area. These figures represent a significant concentration for a species generally found in fragmented habitats with fewer than 10 breeding pairs elsewhere.
The remote granite formations in Niassa provide the falcons with ideal hunting perches above intact miombo woodlands, offering a competitive edge over other raptors. While habitat degradation and increased human activity—such as charcoal production and agriculture—pose a growing risk, the reserve’s vast size, relatively sparse population, and natural woodland resilience remain critical buffers. With population collapses in former strongholds in South Africa and Zimbabwe, Niassa’s protection is seen as vital for the long-term survival of this endangered raptor.
Source: news.mongabay
