The Capital Kiwi

Blog Credit: Trupti Thakur

Image Courtesy: Google

The Capital Kiwi- NewZealand’s Project

In a remarkable turn of events, two kiwi chicks have hatched in the wild near New Zealand’s capital, Wellington, marking a historic moment after over a century. The significance of this milestone is heightened by the fact that the national bird, the kiwi, faced near-extinction due to human activities.

 Kiwis and Their Cultural Significance

The kiwi, not just a bird but a symbol of New Zealand, holds a unique place in the hearts of its people. Despite being affectionately called “Kiwis” globally, these flightless creatures suffered a decline in numbers, prompting conservation efforts to reintroduce them into their native habitat.

 Capital Kiwi Project: A Six-Year Journey

The Capital Kiwi Project, initiated by Paul Ward, the mind behind the nature app Wild Eyes, began six years ago. In November 2022, 11 kiwis were released in Makara, a sprawling hilly farmland west of Wellington. The project’s success is attributed to robust community involvement and strategic conservation efforts.

 Community-Led Conservation

Over 100 landowners played a crucial role by allowing the installation of 4,600 stoat traps, forming the country’s most extensive stoat trapping network. With subsequent releases, the total number of kiwis reached 52, and plans are underway to introduce an additional 200 over the next five years.

 Unnamed Chicks: Fostering Wild Populations

The two newly hatched chicks remain unnamed as part of the project’s goal to encourage the growth of a thriving wild kiwi population. This approach aims to move beyond individual identifications and promote the collective well-being of these iconic birds.

 Kiwi Conservation Challenges

Once numbering around 12 million, kiwi populations faced a decline due to introduced predators and habitat loss. The Capital Kiwi Project, alongside other initiatives, strives to reverse this trend. While adult kiwis can defend themselves with formidable claws, chicks, especially vulnerable to stoats, require vigilant monitoring.

Conservationists found two brown kiwi chicks in New Zealand’s capital where the Capital Kiwi Project was reintroduced a year ago.

In a major boost to conservation efforts of the national bird of New Zealand, conservationists registered the first wild Kiwi births in Wellington in over 150 years.

The conservationists found two brown kiwi chicks in New Zealand’s capital where the Capital Kiwi Project was reintroduced a year ago. The kiwi chicks were found in Makara, a suburb just 25 minutes from Wellington’s city center. Due to their birth, the birds’ total has reached 65 in the region.

Capital Kiwi Project

The mission of the project is “to restore a large-scale wild kiwi population to Wellington’s backyard.” The project also aims to protect kiwis from introduced predators – specifically, stoats.

Kiwis, the flightless birds which form an integral part of the island nation’s culture and identity, had a huge population of around 12 million in New Zealand at one stage.

According to the ‘Save the Kiwi’ charity, the birds number around 68,000 nowadays. According to New Zealand’s Department of Conservation, the kiwi population is declining at an average of 2% a year, mostly due to predators like stoats, cats, dogs and ferrets.

Massive threat to kiwis before reaching adulthood

According to a report by CNN which cited ‘Save the Kiwi’ , 95% of wild born kiwis in New Zealand are killed before they reach adulthood.

“Really the only issue for an adult kiwi is roaming dogs. Where they get hammered is stoats eating the chicks before they get up to their fighting weight,” Capital Kiwi Project team leader Paul Ward told CNN earlier this year.

 

 

Blog By: Trupti Thakur