CHILDREN from Makahu school have recently completed studies on local kiwi and their predators, so were thrilled with the opportunity to welcome two kiwi, Trickle and Solstice, back to their home-ground. Children, along with family and friends from the district and beyond gathered at the historical site of the Bridge to Somewhere, Aotuhia, for a small ceremony before the two sub-adult kiwi were released in the bush area nearby. The kiwi had been uplifted from the Whangamomona Conservation Area late last year as eggs under the Operation Nest Egg (ONE) project, which is carried out jointly by the Department of Conservation and the Taranaki Kiwi Trust. The ONE project is carried out nationally to assist pockets of kiwi populations to survive in the wild. Without adequate predator control kiwi populations continue to decline at a steep rate, with only 5% of kiwi known to reach six months of age. The ONE project works to raise this survival rate, by removing eggs and chicks from an otherwise unprotected area when they are very young and most vulnerable of attack particularly by stoats, and return them to the wild when they are older. Here in Taranaki the ONE project is run in the Whangamomona Conservation Area to boost kiwi numbers in the Egmont National Park and in the area of origin. The journey for Trickle and Solstice started in October last year when they were rescued and taken (as eggs) to Kiwi Encounter at Rainbow Springs, Rotorua. Here they continued to incubate and hatched at approximately 80 days old. As newly hatched chicks, Trickle and Solstice travelled to Bushy Park, a predator-proof reserve near Wanganui where they grew on independently until they reached the safe weight of over 1kg. At 1kg the 'teenage' kiwi are better able to defend themselves from predators, and so are ready to return to the wilds of home. The Taranaki Kiwi Trust are truly grateful for the interest and support from community, including the generosity of the owners from Aotuhia Station for the use of their shearers quarters for a barbeque lunch following the ceremony. Thank you to BNZ Save the Kiwi Trust and NPDC for providing funding towards the ONE project.
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