New York Museum Researcher Finds Bird Not Seen In Half a Century, Kills It For Science

Upon learning of a rare species --- in this case a bird not seen in almost half a century --- it might come across a lot of people to let the said species live as long as it could, preferably, keep it alive until more species can be spotted.

Unfortunately, that didn't cross the mind of a New York Museum researcher, who, after spotting said bird, decided to kill it --- all for the name of science, he said.

Scientist Christopher Filardi, after discovering a moustached kingfisher on Guadalcanal island was subject to much ire when it promptly called the bird in order to study the specimen, a common practice that the New York Daily News said is known as "collecting", although this is usually applied to species not too rare.

PETA Senior Director Colleen O'Brien wrote in an email, "It is a tired and nonsensical, self-serving claim that you must kill some animals in the name of research so as to study them enough to save them."

O'Brien noted that this act is similar to that of Walter Palmer's claim in hunting Cecil the Lion, adding, "This argument is as daft as Walter Palmer saying he shot Cecil the lion with a high-powered crossbow to save other lions. To search for and find an animal of a rare species - an individual with feelings, interests, a home, and perhaps a mate-only to kill him is perverse, cruel, and the sort of act that has led to the extinction of other animals who were also viewed as 'specimen.'"

She claimed, "All that was needed to document this rare bird was compassion, awe, and a camera, not disregard and a death warrant."

For his part, Filardi wrote that killing the bird " was neither an easy decision nor one made in the spur of the moment." He is currently overseas and cannot be reached for comment, however, according to his bio on the Museum's website, he is said to have "a long history of conducting conservation and education activities."

Discovery said that there are approximately 250 to 1,000 mature moustached kingfishers left on the planet, but Filardi insisted that taking the life of one would not endanger the species any further, and would in fact provide more scientific benefits. He wrote, "With this first modern voucher of the kingfisher, the only adult male, we now have a comprehensive set of material for molecular, morphological, toxicological, and plumage studies that are unavailable from blood samples, individual feathers, or photographs."