Rimutaka Forest Park kiwi avoidance training
Mãtãmua, the first kiwi chick to be produced from the Rimutaka Forest Park, in February 2007, joined other kiwi in the wild there in March. A second chick, produced in January this year is being reared in captivity under the Bank of New Zealand Operation Nest Egg programme until it grows to 1200g, big enough to ward off a stoat.
The 2500 ha release area is kept safe by over 400 humane kill traps targeting stoats and rats. Volunteers check the traps fortnightly in the summer and monthly in the winter.
Kiwi avoidance training has recently been introduced to educate dogs and their owners of the risk dogs pose to kiwi and to diminish those risks. The initial training of 57 dogs in February was an opportunity for the trust to build relationships with local hunters. Some have expressed an interest in helping out where they can, and there was some very positive support for the project.
Visit the Bank of New Zealand Kiwi website to see how you can help kiwi:
www.savethekiwi.org.nz
Visit the Rimutaka Forest Park Trust website to find out more about its kiwi project:
www.rimutakatrust.org.nz
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