World's rarest stork nesting in NABU project area on Sumatra

It is the first confirmed sighting of a Storm's stork nest with chick since 1989

25. March 2025 – In NABU's project area Hutan Harapan on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, a nest of the rarest stork species on earth has been found for the first time in decades: Namely, the Storm's stork. It is the first scientifically documented nest of the species on Sumatra since 1989. This sensational discovery is a hopeful sign for the globally endangered Storm's stork.

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), only approximately 300 to 1,750 adult Storm's storks remain in the wild worldwide, and only 50 to 100 on Sumatra. The species is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, with a worrying population decrease of 40 to 60 percent over the past three decades (1992–2023). The Storm's stork (Ciconia stormi) is distinguished by its black-white plumage, a yellow ring around its eyes and its striking red beak.

Logging in the rainforest threatens the Storm's stork

“The fact that Storm's storks are breeding in Hutan Harapan demonstrates that they have a safe habitat with sufficient food here. This underscores the immense significance of rainforest conservation for the continued existence of this rare species”, emphasises Hyeun-Ji Lee, NABU Project Officer for Hutan Harapan.

Habitat loss in particular represents a threat for the Storm's stork. Clear-cutting in the rainforest for palm oil plantations, road construction and mining all put the species under massive existential pressure. Measures to conserve and restore rainforests like Hutan Harapan are critically important to ensuring the survival of these extraordinary storks.

That is why NABU and its partners have worked together for many years to advance rainforest conservation on the Indonesian island of Sumatra.

Among other measures, this includes combating illegal logging, restoring forested areas, and conducting environmental education and research work on biodiversity in the region.

Hutan Harapan – a home with a future

The sensational discovery of the Storm's stork nest shows that Hutan Harapan is not only a refuge for endangered species, but also can offer a future for them. It is now essential to expand this protection, in order to preserve the Storm's stork and many other endangered species over the long term.

For safety reasons, NABU will not reveal the exact location of the sighting, as poaching continues to represent a serious danger to this extremely rare bird species.

The project is being implemented in cooperation with Burung Indonesia, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), the KfW Development Bank and BirdLife International. It is funded through the International Climate Initiative (IKI) and the NABU International Foundation for Nature.

MORE INFORMATION