The number of mountain chickens have been declining for many years. It was the national dish of the islands (its meaty legs taste like chicken). Hunting is now banned. In Montserrat, the loss of habitat due to the volcanic eruption caused further pressure. Then, a deadly amphibian disease, the chytrid fungus, (which had already reduced the numbers in Dominica to a very low level) arrived in Montserrat. Captive breeding and re-release into the wild will hopefully ensure the survival of this species. |