By Nick James of RNZ
A kiwi which was part of a project that has brought the native birds to Wellington’s hills has drowned in a water trough.
The Capital Kiwi Project has a permit to release 250 birds in the south and west of the city, with 140 released so far.
Capital Kiwi Project posted yesterday on its social media pages, telling followers that one of the birds had died.
It said just before Christmas a landowner contacted them to tell them a kiwi had drowned in a water trough.
“She was a large female kiwi, living not far from her release site. An unmonitored bird, she came from Rotokare, gifted by Ngāti Tupaia.”
The post pointed out that these birds were wild, her death had come from misadventure and was no one’s fault.
But it said it was a reminder to keep dogs under control, beware of kiwi when driving, and if people do have a trough they should ensure it is raised off the ground and create a way for a kiwi to get out.
Taranaki Whānui chairperson Kara Puketapu-Dentice provided a whakataukī to acknowledge the death.
“Mate atu he tētē kura, ara mai he tētē kura. (”When one fern frond dies, another rises to take its place.“)
“This whakataukī reminds us of the cycle of life and the resilience of nature.
“Though we mourn her loss; her life and the work we have done, and continue to do, lays the foundation for the future of kiwi in Te Upoko o te Ika a Māui.”
The Capital Kiwi Project also noted in the post that the first egg of this season’s second batch of chicks hatched last week.
Project lead Paul Ward told RNZ it had been a “bumper season” in the number of chicks that were coming through the programme.
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Emergency services were alerted to the incident at 4.50pm.