Nene Hawaiian goose, Haleakala, Maui, Hawaii 1979

The endangered NeneHawaiian goose (Branta sandvicensis) is endemic to Hawaii. A distant relative of the Canada goose, the feet of the nene have adapted to the volcanic landscape by having lost most of their webbing. The Nene was brought back from the verge of extinction in the 1950s by captive breeding and release programs. Today there are wild populations on the island of Hawaii (Hawaii Volcanoes National Park), Maui (Haleakala National Park), and the lowlands of Kauai. This image shows two nene geese in the Paliku camp grounds at the head of Kaupo Gap, on the eastern side of Haleakala National park, East Maui.