Mortality incident in northern bald ibis Geronticus eremita in Morocco in May 1996

In May 1986 there was an acute and:dramatic mortality incident in the last remaining wild population of northern bald ibis Geronticus eremita. This sp ecies is Critically Endangered, comprising only about 250 wild individuals, which occur on the Atlantic coast of southern Morocco. Over a period of 10 days a total Of 38 adult birds (aged 1 year or more) died or disappeared. Deaths, probably secondary to the loss of one or both parent birds, Iso occ urred subsequently in six estlings and one: recent fledgling. The incident appeared to involve no other species. This paper describes the pattern of t he incident, and pathological, microbiological and toxicological investigat ions and findings. Several features point to a toxic aetiology but the caus e of the incident has not been established.