Madagascan pochard lake. After hatching, the day-old chicks were taken to a holding facility in a local hotel. Reared in captivity, they hatched eighteen ducklings in April 2012 at the captive breeding centre in Antsohihy, bringing the total population to 60. In April 2013, the population reached 80. In Autumn 2017 the population reached 90, the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust and the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust are now ready to begin the reintroduction process at a suitable lake in Madagascar, Lake Sofia. Madagascan pochard The Madagascan pochard or Madagascar pochard ("Aythya innotata"; ) is an extremely rare diving duck of the genus
Baer's pochard found just 131 individuals on Liangzihu Lake, and only another three flocks of ten, eight, and three individuals at other sites. Hunting and wetland destruction are thought to be the causes of the decline; unconfirmed reports from eastern China suggest that as many as 3,000 individuals may be hunted every year. Baer's pochard breeds around lakes with rich aquatic vegetation, nesting in dense grass, flooded tussock meadows, or flooded shrubby meadows. In Liaoning, China, it is normally found in densely vegetated coastal wetlands, or around lakes and ponds surrounded by forest. In winter, it occurs on freshwater lakes and reservoirs.