Dog kills Kiwi

Dog kills Kiwi

The wild kiwi population in Wellington has fallen following the death of a kiwi from dog predation in the Rimutaka Forest Park, re-emphasising the importance of keeping dogs on a lead near kiwi populations.

The death of Waikiwianui, an adult male in the prime of his life, is a serious blow to the kiwi population in the park, which presently numbers around 35 birds. The Rimutaka Forest Park Trust, which began re-introducing kiwi in to the park in 2006, has received an autopsy report confirming a dog as the culprit of the attack.

“This is the second, or possibly third kiwi killed by a dog in the park, as we have been unable to locate Waikiwianui’s mate, Potiki” said Trust spokesperson Melody McLaughlin.

This loss echoes that of Fern the Kiwi in 2009 which holds the unfortunate title of being the first kiwi killed by a dog in the Park. Both birds had been named by local primary schools, with Fern being named by Fernlea school and Waikiwianui by Wainuiomata Primary school.

Liberated from captivity in 2006, where he had refused to find a mate, Waikiwianui soon paired up with Potiki and together produced five kiwi chicks. “These birds had many years of life left in them” pointed out Ms McLaughlin “Kiwi mate for life, and this couple could have produced another fifty kiwi given the chance – this is a real blow to the population”.

“The children will be devastated” said Ms McLaughlin.” It takes only seconds for a dog, even a seemingly placid family pet, to kill a kiwi as they smell irresistible to dogs and are incredibly vulnerable”.

All adult kiwi in the park are regularly monitored by the Trust, and this information has been used to determine when the kiwi was killed, “If you were walking your dog along Sunny Grove track on the weekend of the 20th or 21st of March and your dog wasn’t on a lead and momentarily dashed in to the bush – chances are it killed this kiwi” said Susan Ellis, Trust member who found the dead bird.

“The best way to avoid another tragedy such as this is to keep your dog on a lead and to put your dog through kiwi avoidance training” Ms McLaughlin said. “The majority of local hunters have been incredibly supportive in getting their dogs put through training as has a number of people with family pets, “It takes only 15 minutes to kiwi-proof your dog – and another 15 minutes a year later. It’s a small price to pay for the continued existence of our national icon”.

ENDS

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