Sao Tome White-eye Zosterops feae Scientific name definitions

São Tomé I, in Gulf of Guinea.

Not globally threatened. Currently considered Near Threatened. Restricted-range species: present in São Tomé EBA. Rare to locally uncommon. Population currently estimated at 2500–10,000 mature individuals. Declined worryingly; it was common in 1920s, uncommon in 1970s, and generally rare and only locally quite common in 1990; seems to fluctuate in numbers, but is believed to be currently broadly stable, although the species is at risk from clearance of high-altitude rainforest for cocoa plantations. Historically, large areas of primary forest were cleared for cocoa and coffee plantations. Today, land privatization is leading to an increase in numbers of small farms and the clearance of trees, particularly in the N of the island, while road developments along E & W coasts of São Tomé are increasing access to previously remote areas. Construction for the country’s developing oil industry, including the established idea of building ‘free ports’. However, prospecting on land was unsuccessful, and any construction is likely to be offshore.