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Dogs and cats are a significant problem for kiwi. Find out why, and what you can do.
Predators & Pests
New Zealand, a land of birds, had no warm blooded mammal predators before people introduced them. These are now the main threat to kiwi’s survival – killing eggs, chicks and adults.
The main culprits are stoats and cats – which take a heavy toll on young birds during their first three months of life.
Dogs are particularly hard on adult birds and that’s bad for kiwi because these are the breeding birds – without them there are no eggs or chicks to keep the population stable or growing. Ferrets also kill adult kiwi.
Possums kill both adult kiwi and chicks, destroy eggs and steal kiwi burrows. And pigs destroy eggs and can also kill adult kiwi.
Other animal pests, such as hedgehogs, rodents and weasels, may not kill kiwi, but they also cause problems. First, they compete for the same food as kiwi. Second, they are prey for the same animals that attack kiwi, helping to keep the number of predators high.
Turning the tide
In areas where kiwi predators are intensively controlled, kiwi hatching increases to 90%. Management is making a difference, especially when dog owners keep their dogs under control.
Find out how BNZ Save the Kiwi is helping dog owners care for kiwi.
Dogs and Cats
Dogs and cats are a significant problem for kiwi. Find out why, and what you can do.
About Rowi Project
Find out how BNZ Save the Kiwi Trust is helping put NZ’s most endangered kiwi species on the road to recovery.
Research, Science & Tech
Science and research is the foundation for our work to help save kiwi.
Did You Know?
Five intensively managed kiwi sanctuaries exist on mainland New Zealand – in Northland, Coromandel, Tongariro, Okarito and Haast – set up by the government to help kiwi survive and thrive on the mainland.