THE world’s rarest type of duck has been successfully bred in the wild - with 12 new additions to the endangered species.

The dozen Madagascar pochard ducklings have been sighted after a conservation project was launched which saw 21 captive-bred pochards released into the wild.

Now two broods, of eight and four, have been established since the captive birds release in December 2018 - and have produced ducklings a year earlier than expected.

The rare birds, which are critically endangered with only around 30 to 50 remaining in the wild, were sighted on Lake Sofia, a remote site in northern Madagascar.

The captive-bred pochards were released by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, based in Slimbridge, and Jersey's Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust.

Durrell’s Wetlands Manager, Felix Razafindrajao, was part of the team who discovered them.

He said: “I am happy and proud, as well as a little surprised, that our released birds have produced ducklings within one year.

"Despite the release techniques being a world-first, it’s clear that our methods and the careful preparation and planning have worked to save the Fotsimaso.

"After much hands-on effort to rear birds in captivity, and to transport and release them at this remote location, it’s fantastic to see the ducks take this next critical step for themselves.”

Peter Cranswick, from the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, added: “Reintroduced animals normally take a while to settle into their new site, and first breeding attempts are often unsuccessful, so this is a wholly unexpected but very welcome development.

"It took several years for the local communities around the lake to give this project to restore the lake and reintroduce pochards their endorsement.

"Now the ducks have given it their endorsement too!”

The species was thought extinct until a chance discovery of 20 birds on a small, remote lake in 2006.

A rescue mission in 2009 brought the birds into captivity, and a breeding centre was established in, Antsohihy, the regional capital.

The search began for a suitable wetland that could successfully home a new wild population, and Lake Sofia was chosen.

In 2018, 21 pochards, hand-reared at the breeding centre, were the first released into the wild.

Durrell’s Project Manager, Dr Glyn Young said: “This is a remarkable step in this project to save and restore the Madagascar pochard.

"When we started in 1989 and found no hope for species’ survival until 2006, things looked very bleak.

"But we never gave up and I am so proud on behalf of our partnership and for all of our Malagasy colleagues that this pivotal milestone offers hope that the pochard may one day be widespread across Madagascar’s wetlands.”

A monitoring team, based at the lake to carefully track the 2018 released pochards for the last twelve months, will now be observing the ducklings.

The young face many challenges, not least to find food in a lake that is in poor condition.

Already, they have been observed taking artificial food provided on feeding platforms by project staff.

With cyclone season underway, it is crucial that the birds grow and develop their first full feathers that will provide waterproofing and warmth as the weather deteriorates over the coming month.

Restoring Lake Sofia is key to the ducks’ survival. This is part of a broad programme of work, to develop sustainable livelihoods for the local communities, so that the lake can flourish and that villagers can benefit from the lake.

Mr Cranswick added: “We celebrate each time we cross a threshold in this project, and the first breeding in the wild is very significant.

"But it only reminds us that the next huge task has begun, and it will take several years of learning from these birds before we can be confident that we understand their needs fully and how to restore the lake.

“So we are not yet counting our ducklings – there are many challenges ahead, particularly given the adults are young, inexperienced and reared in captivity.

“There is a long way to go – and there will be many setbacks along the way – but this is a major milestone achieved two or three years ahead of schedule!”

The Madagascar pochard is a breed of duck native to the African island, and was reported as common in the early part of the last century.

But now they are endangered, thanks to widespread wetland degradation and reduced water quality.