A duck believed to be extinct for 15 years has been given a new lease of life on a remote lake in Madagascar, Daily Mail reported.

Some 21 Madagascar pochards, thought to be the rarest bird on Earth, spent a week in the safety of the world's first floating aviaries on Lake Sofia in the country's north.

This pioneering approach is designed to let the birds to become accustomed to their new surroundings, increasing the chances they will remain at the site after release.

The state of the wetlands in Madagascar is so poor they will likely not survive if they leave the lake, said Gloucestershire-based WWT, who are behind the project.

The ducks were released from the aviaries earlier this month and very quickly adapted to the lake, diving and flying, associating with other wild ducks and returning to the safety of the floating aviaries to feed and roost.