3:00 PM Thursday Nov 5, 2015
Poor or non-existent pest control
has caused a catastrophe for one of New Zealand's beloved native bird species,
conservationists say.
Dr Luis Ortiz-Catedral of Massey
University said a lack of pest control in Northland was largely to blame for
the disappearance of kakariki, the native red-crowned parakeet.
Last week, Forest and Bird
released drone footage of decimated native Northland forests, also blaming
inadequate pest control for the destruction of many native trees.
Forest and Bird said possums and
other pests were running rampant in northern forests. This week, Dr
Ortiz-Catedral said rats, possums, and other pests were killing off kakariki.
"This is a rapid
collapse," he said.
Dr Ortiz-Catedral, a conservation
biology lecturer and parakeet expert, said the kakariki had almost certainly
become extinct in all areas north of Kawakawa.
"As recently as 25 years ago
there were anecdotal records of kakariki scattered across Northland from Cape
Reinga down to forest patches near Paparoa.
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