Historic Day for Rare Kiwi

DOC’s South Westland Area Manager, Jo Macpherson, said seven Haast Tokoeka kiwi were taken to Coal Island this morning where they will form the basis of a breeding programme and serve as an insurance population.

Ms Macpherson said only 350 Haast tokoeka are left in South Westland because young birds are killed by stoats.

“Even with an extensive stoat trapping programme, and chick rearing using BNZ Operation Nest Egg, the best annual population growth rates are about ten per cent for this species which makes it very important to also get viable breeding populations established elsewhere,” she said.

The seven kiwi were all reared at Willowbank Wildlife Reserve in Christchurch and had been on a Rona Island in Lake Manapuri until last night.

“Getting to this day has only been possible because a large number of people have all pulled together, I’m just so impressed to see our Iwi groups, organisations and businesses like the Fiordland Lobster Company get in behind our special kiwi,” Ms Macpherson said.

Ms Macpherson said over the next three years a total of 30 birds are to be released on Coal Island.

A fully viable back-up population requires 100 individuals and a population of this size cannot be accommodated on just one island. In 2008 five pairs of Haast tokoeka were placed to an island Foveaux Straight.

Source: Media Release from Department of Conservation.