Orokonui Ecosanctuary to become crèche for rare kiwi

Monday, 9 March 2015, 5:01 pm

Press Release: Department of Conservation

Media release

March 2015

Orokonui Ecosanctuary to become crèche for rare kiwi

A new ‘creche’ facility at Orokonui Ecosanctuary is to welcome its first occupants this month—five critically endangered Haast tokoeka kiwi chicks.

Department of Conservation (DOC) rangers will transfer the kiwi to the ecosanctuary on 17 March. The young birds will be reared in a predator-free enclosure until they are large enough to defend themselves from the biggest threat to their survival—stoats.

“This facility will provide a vital, safe environment where these vulnerable young birds can learn and grow,” says DOC ranger Jacinda Amey.

“Left in their natural home in the Haast Ranges, 95% of these birds would die before they reached adulthood. With a population of just 400, we have to do all we can to give every new bird the best possible chance of survival.”

Read on ...

Ecosanctuary kiwi chick a 'big boost'

By Rebecca Fox

10:45 AM Friday Jun 7, 2013

A sighting of a Haast tokoeka kiwi chick at Orokonui Ecosanctuary is an important milestone for the recovery of the rare native bird, the Department of Conservation says.

Photo: Michael Cunningham

Kiwis from South Westland were first introduced to the ecosanctuary in November 2010 and 16 have had the run of the predator-proof enclosure since, although they have mostly remained in the upper part of the ecosanctuary.

Orokonui ranger Kelly Gough recently spotted the chick disappearing into bush near the ecosanctuary's perimeter fence. She had seen kiwi droppings in the vicinity and soon afterwards caught a glimpse of the rounded back of a small kiwi.

Doc biodiversity programme manager, in charge of kiwi recovery projects in Haast and Franz Josef, Jim Livingstone said breeding pairs at Orokonui would be a "big boost" to the genetic diversity of the population overall, which was vital for the ongoing health of the wild birds.

Only about 350 of the kiwis remain in the wild.

Ecosanctuary trust board chairman Neville Peat said the appearance of the young kiwi was a thrilling moment for Dunedin and Otago, a region that had not had kiwis in a wild or semi-wild situation for about 130 years.

Continued