None of the kiwi chicks was harmed but the Department of Conservation says all could have been lost if the dog had not been found on Motuara Island as soon as it was.

The dog was discovered by DOC staff on the island on Monday, 3 May. The dog is thought to have got onto the island by itself after it went missing from its owner when pig hunting on a nearby mainland area.

“Dogs are a known killer of kiwi and the find of the dog on the island caused us serious concern for the kiwi chicks as well as other native wildlife on the island,” said Mike Aviss, DOC Sounds Area species programme manager.

“Searches were immediately mounted for the kiwi chicks. Thankfully, all 14 chicks were found safe and well but we did find signs the dog ate a penguin.

“We believe the dog was only on the island for a day or two as it wasn’t there the week before. If it had been there longer it is very likely it would have killed kiwi chicks for food. The kiwi species, rowi, is ranked as nationally critical and any losses would have been a major blow to efforts to build rowi numbers.”

As part of Bank of New Zealand Kiwi Recovery, the 14 rowi (Okarito brown kiwi) chicks were taken to Motuara Island late last year having been removed from the Okarito Kiwi Sanctuary in South Westland in anticipation of a stoat population explosion in the sanctuary. The rowi are due to be returned to Okarito later this year when they are big enough to fend off attacks from stoats.

Mr Aviss said the dog’s owner was not being blamed but the incident highlighted the need for care in use of pig hunting dogs in conservation areas to ensure they did not pose a risk to native wildlife.

“Pig numbers are high in the Marlborough Sounds and they are a pest, preying on giant Powelliphanta snails, damaging native vegetation and eating native insects. We appreciate what hunters do in reducing pig numbers. But for the protection of native wildlife, hunters should only used well-trained dogs. Additionally, every effort should be made not to lose dogs and to find them as quickly as possible if they do go missing.

“In this case, the dog owner, who we’ve spoken to, acted responsibly. He went to considerable effort in trying to find the dog after it went missing at Cannibal Cove on a pig hunting trip a week earlier. The owner was very upset that his dog got onto Motuara and could’ve killed kiwi.”

Mr Aviss said it was not known for certain how the dog got to Motuara Island but there was nothing to indicate it was put there deliberately.

“The dog could’ve swum the distance – less than two kilometres – between the mainland and the island. It could have also got there by jumping off a boat passing the island if someone had found the dog and was taking it back to Picton. If that did happen then it would be good to hear from anyone involved.”

Mr Aviss said dogs must never be taken onto conservation islands such as Motuara which, as well having young rowi, was a sanctuary for other endangered species including tieke (saddleback) and Maud Island frogs.

DOC kiwi information:
Paul Jansen - Phone: (04) 471 3236, or 025 410 026

DOC Sounds Area:
Mike Aviss - Phone: (03) 520 3002, or Trish Grant (media liaison) - (03) 546 3146.

Bank of New Zealand Kiwi Recovery Trust:
Kieron Goodwin, - Phone: (09) 375 1084 or 029 478 4610