Opotiki kiwi release
For more information::
DOC media liaison: Lisa Loughlin: +64 7 315 1001
DOC national kiwi information: Avi Holzapfel: +64 7 858 0019
Bank of New Zealand Save the Kiwi Trust: Michelle Impey: +64 9 375 1084, +64 29 478 4610
Date: 08 July 2008
Opotiki people will get the chance to check out some very special local wildlife this weekend when a kiwi will be released back to the wild. Department of Conservation (DOC) Ranger, Greg Moorcroft said today that a North Island brown kiwi will be released near Amokura Road on Sunday, July 13th at 3 p.m. The bird has been cared for as part of Bank of New Zealand Save the Kiwi work to protect the species that is so closely associated with the identity of this country.
"Anyone interested in coming along and watching the kiwi release should follow the signs from Woodlands Road. The bird we are releasing is a male kiwi that was caught in a leg-hold possum trap in June. Fortunately the trapper brought the kiwi in to the DOC office in Opotiki. We took the bird to Opotiki Veterinary Centre to be x-rayed. No bones were broken and the kiwi was given antibiotics to prevent any infection from setting in," Mr Moorcroft said.
The kiwi was then taken to Rosemary Tully of Whakatane Bird Rescue who cared for the bird for three weeks while it recovered from the injury. The work involved included less pleasant but essential jobs like force-feeding the bird and cleaning out its cage. Now it is ready to be returned to the area where it was found on private land that was being trapped for possums.
"We are really lucky in the Opotiki area in having kiwi living in the district. In most of the rest of New Zealand, kiwi are uncommon and populations are declining. Mature birds can live for a long time, but kiwi chicks are being killed by stoats or cats before they get a chance to become adults. Adult kiwi are better able to cope with predators, but they are easily killed by dogs. Over time, kiwi could die out unless people do something to help them," Mr Moorcroft said.
Concern at possibility of kiwi extinction inspires Bank of New Zealand Save the Kiwi work that involves a wide range of projects such as fencing, habitat protection and predator control at sites around the country. In the Opotiki area, a particular concern has been the threat caused by possum traps set on the ground.
"Over the last three years, four kiwi have been brought into the Opotiki DOC office after they were caught in possum traps. We really appreciate having the birds brought in, because in most cases, we can help them, and even if the birds die, it is useful for us to be able to examine the carcasses. However, it would be even more helpful if we could prevent trapping of kiwi, and that is a simple matter of setting traps up off the ground. We will provide advice on this at the kiwi release on Sunday.
"Other actions people can take to protect kiwi include keeping dogs inside or tied up at night if you live near bush and training hunting dogs to avoid kiwi," Mr Moorcroft said.