Takutea Wildlife Sanctuary (23663)
Cook Islands, Oceania
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: B1, D1a
Year of last assessment: 2012
National site name: Takutea Wildlife Sanctuary
Central coordinates: Latitude: -19.8078, Longitude: -158.2898
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 6
Area of KBA (km2): 8.88569
Protected area coverage (%): 88.70
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.
Additional biodiversity: Important nesting area for Red-tailed Tropicbird with >1% global population present.
Supersedes another site: 31041
Delineation rationale: This boundary includes the original colony area with an additional 1km marine foraging buffer. These buffers were redefined and are now more appropriate for the trigger species (Red-tailed Tropicbird).
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: Undeveloped, uninhabited sand cay with atoll vegetation
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Invasive species, Habitat destruction
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Named species | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Intentional use (species being assessed is the target) | Ongoing |
| Climate change & severe weather | Storms & flooding | Only in the future |