Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — In 2015 the American Samoa Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources (DMWR), the Public Benefit Corporation, and the Toledo Zoo began planning a collection trip to our islands. Preparation included permitting, holding, and logistics for the transport of Many-colored Fruit Dove (MCFD) back to the US mainland.

In September 2016, 4 pairs of birds were mist-netted on the island of Tutuila and transported back to the Toledo Zoo with a stop in Hawaii, where Honolulu Zoo staff hand-fed the doves before they continued onto the mainland. These Manuma are now currently housed in pairs at the zoo’s Avian Breeding Center. A follow-up collection trip was carried out in 2017 bringing an additional 3 males and 4 females into the Toledo collection.

The project has now expanded from one zoo to three zoos. As of December 2025, there are now 47 birds across three zoos:

•        Bronx zoo

•        San Diego zoo

•        Toledo Zoo.

These birds remain ASG property even though they are being raised in the zoos just in case they are ever needed to restore the local population. So if you're planning to visit any of the these zoos make sure to visit our birds.