Wellington: Conservationists in New Zealand’s capital are celebrating a momentous occasion with the discovery of two kiwi chicks, marking the first time in over 150 years, as per reports. The Capital Kiwi Project, launched just a year ago, has successfully reintroduced the North Island brown kiwi to the city.
Despite being one of the country’s more common species, the New Zealand Department of Conservation issues a warning about the potential extinction of the brown kiwi within two generations without robust conservation efforts. The Capital Kiwi Project, set to monitor the chicks with transmitters, has ambitious plans to hatch an additional 18 brown kiwi chicks, aiming to establish a sizable, wild population in the capital, according to reports.
The dwindling kiwi population in New Zealand, once around 12 million, has sharply declined to 68,000, underscoring the urgency of conservation efforts. Save the Kiwi highlights a concerning statistic, revealing that 95 percent of wild-born Kiwis in New Zealand face mortality before reaching adulthood. Roaming dogs and stoats preying on chicks are identified as primary threats. The Kiwi Recovery Plan, initiated in 1991, focuses on predator control and community engagement to address the ongoing population decline.
Comments