 |
Local
schools
were
present
when
the
latest
kiwi
to
be
released
into
Pukaha
Mount
Bruce.
|
Kiwi
have
been
returned
to
the
last
remnant
of
the
70
Mile
Bush
after
over
100
years
of
absence.
This
was
the
first
time
kiwi
had
been
returned
to
the
wild,
in
a
place
they
had
become
extinct.
The
translocation
of
these
kiwi
is
a
major
goal
of
the
kiwi
recovery
plan,
being
to
"establish
secure
population
in
their
former
range."
Kiwi
once
roamed
the
north
island
including
the
Pukaha
Mount
Bruce
forest,
but
became
extinct
from
Pukaha
Mount
Bruce
in
the
late
19th
century.
The
vision for the future of kiwi at Pukaha Mount Bruce sees
a population of at least 10 pairs of brown kiwi existing
in the forest within 10 years and eventually a population
of at least 30 pairs. We aim to achieve these results
by continuing with predator reduction strategies and maintaining
community involvement. A new population of kiwi began
at Pukaha with the initial release of six adult birds
in December 2003. All released birds have been bred in
captiivty and are a mix of all North Island kiwi populations.
To date Willowbank,
Otorohanga Kiwi
House and Rainbow Springs Kiwi
Encounter have contributed to the new population, but
several other institutes hope to have birds for release
in the future.
The
Birds
Five
out
of
the
original
6
birds
are
still
present
-
one
female
is
a
bit
of
a
nomad
and
moves
in
a
range
of
close
to
40ha
-
the
others
all
stick
to
defined
home
ranges,
near
the
ridge
above
the
release
site
One
pair
formed
and
laid
an
egg
in
August
2004,
however
the
egg
didn't
develop
and
the
male
abandoned
the
nest
Second
nest
and
egg
from
the
same
pair
was
discovered
in
October
2004
-
about
30m
away
from
the
first.
This
too
was
abandoned.
Three
more
birds
(two
males
and
one
female)
were
released
in
October
and
so
far
are
acting
as
the
first
released
birds
did.
(deleted
a
bit
here)
We're
now
getting
used
to
having
kiwi
about
in
the
bush
-
they're
part
of
our
lives!
(Deleted
more)
All
kiwi
are
being
monitored
closely
and
we
are
hoping
that
they
will
form
pairs
now
that
there
are
more
male
birds
in
the
population.
Read
more
about
kiwi..........
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