A second fatal dog attack on a Stewart Island brown kiwi/tokoeka in just four months has angered residents who support calls for dog owners to stop their animals wandering.

Stewart Island Flights staff made the discovery while checking the weather at the Ryan’s Creek airstrip on Sunday (11 November 2007) morning. They promptly alerted the Department of Conservation so the mauled body could be removed from the tarmac prior to the arrival of the first flight for the day.

“The large female kiwi put up a valiant fight”, said off-duty DOC ranger Phred Dobbins, who responded to the call-out.

“It was chased more than 70m along the edge of the airstrip and attacked several times before being killed on the tarmac.”

A number of dog prints were found following and around the kiwi, Mr Dobbins said and one set of prints identified a dog, “about the size of a fox terrier”.

A dog was also the confirmed killer of an adult kiwi a couple of months ago. On July 10 2007, while out for a walk with her granddaughter, local resident Isabelle Broughton discovered a dead kiwi at Traill Park, opposite the Oban police station on Stewart Island/Rakiura.

“I have been watching kiwi come out on Traill Park at night for over three years, so I wanted to show my granddaughter where I go to see them,” said Mrs Broughton.

“I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw the lifeless body in the middle of the field – and the evidence of where it had been chased, caught, and escaped only to be caught again.

“I’m absolutely appalled that one or two people who live here just don’t appear to have any regard for the birdlife and how precious it is.

“They seem to think that the rules don’t apply to them and just let their dogs roam.”

DOC staff agree that if dogs are left to roam it is unlikely that a large resident kiwi population will ever establish around Halfmoon Bay.

“Evidence suggests that once a dog gets a taste for kiwi that the killings will continue. This is the third kiwi killed by dogs around the village in the past 18 months,” said Stewart Island Field Centre Supervisor Sharon Pasco.

“I’ve fielded a number of calls from irate residents since the first dead kiwi was found, including a number from people who have dogs and are concerned that their pets are being branded kiwi killers just because a few irresponsible dog owners let their dogs roam,” Mrs Pasco said.

“We’re pleading for dog owners to keep control of their dogs at all times.” Southland District Council animal control officer Paul Bell said that council has a zero tolerance of roaming dogs on Stewart Island and will prosecute owners when this is possible. SDC is responsible for dog control in the urban areas of Stewart Island.

“Council urges anyone who sees a dog wandering loose anywhere on Stewart Island to report it immediately to council staff and action will be taken,” he said. This service is available 24 hours a day, by telephoning 0800 732 732.

Contact:
For more information please contact:
Sharon Pasco
Email: spasco@doc.govt.nz

Rakiura National Park Visitor Centre
Phone: +64 3 219 0009
Address: Main Road, Stewart Island
Email: rakiuravc@doc.govt.nz

Southland District Council Animal Control:
Phone: 0800 732 732