Zoo kiwi flight of a lifetime will help kiwi mates

Five North Island Brown kiwi hatched and reared at Auckland Zoo fly out to the United States this evening to assist the international captive breeding programme for our endangered national bird.

Destined for San Diego Wild Animal Park, the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Virginia, and Germany’s Frankfurt Zoo, the birds (a single female and two pairs) will contribute valuable new bloodlines to the American and European kiwi populations, which currently stand at 16 and 22 respectively.

“This is the first international kiwi transfer from New Zealand in almost 20 years, and we’ve been working closely with the Department of Conservation (DOC) and our overseas partners to enable it to happen. We’re delighted that as well as introducing new blood to the northern hemisphere captive population, it’s going to help open lines of communication between kiwi conservation projects in New Zealand, and potential North American supporters of these projects,” says Auckland Zoo NZ Fauna curator, Ian Fraser

Flying courtesy of Air New Zealand, the birds will travel in the aircraft’s cargo hold for the 12-hour flight to L.A. where the temperature will be a comfortable 20 degrees, and the consistent engine noise will cause the birds minimal stress

Also on the flight will be the zoo’s NZ Fauna keeper Michelle Whybrow, and the American/European studbook keeper and coordinator of the Species Survival Plan (SSP) for kiwi, Kathy Brader, from the Smithsonian National Zoological Park in Washington D.C.

On arrival, the two kiwi specialists will help settle the birds into their San Diego quarantine facility, where they’ll be held for 30 days prior to being relocated to their new homes.

“These birds are exciting additions to the Species Survival Plan (SSP) for the USA and Europe, and will enable us to extend the help we can give to New Zealand and this incredibly unique bird,” says Ms Brader, who has worked with kiwi for 24 years.

“Interest in kiwi in the United States is huge, and we are very proud ambassadors. Through the kiwi encounter we do at the Smithsonian National Zoological Park, we share New Zealand’s success story of the BNZ Save the Kiwi Operation Nest Egg (O.N.E.) programme and DOC’s conservation efforts.

Along with this advocacy, and hopefully breeding from the new pair we are receiving, our goal is to fund and drive a number of research projects here in the States and potentially also in New Zealand. For example, we are going to investigate artificial insemination for kiwi. We are also looking to sponsor a Smithsonian graduate student to analyse data collected through O.N.E. over the years - information that could further help us understand wild populations.”

DOC’s Avi Holzapfel, leader of the Kiwi Recovery Group, says the group is looking forward to collaborating on research projects in the future. “This shared knowledge should contribute directly to the recovery of wild kiwi populations in New Zealand,” he says.

“The logistics involved in this were enormous, but we’re thrilled to have the opportunity to help out,” he says.
We’re looking forward to collaborating on research projects in the future, and this shared knowledge should contribute directly to the recovery of wild kiwi populations in New Zealand,” says Mr Holzapfel.

All five departing birds – males Ngati HineTahi and Ngati Hine Rima, and females Ngati Hine Rua, Ngati Hine Toru, and Ngati Hine Wha all hail from Northland and have been named with their home and associated iwi in mind.

“Ngati Hine are delighted to be contributing to ensuring that kiwi will never become extinct like the moa,” says Kevin Prime, a prominent member of Ngati Hine.

Notes to the Editor
Background information

o A number of institutions in the US and Europe currently hold kiwi in captivity, including several successful breeding populations.
o
o To remain healthy and genetically diverse, the overseas population (about 38 birds) needs an infusion of new blood. These five kiwi should fill all the gaps in the overseas population’s makeup.
o
o DOC has worked in partnership with iwi on this project, and have ensured that our national treasures will be well looked after in their new homes.
o
o The DOC-led Kiwi Recovery Group and the directors of the overseas population will collaborate on research projects and share knowledge, which should contribute directly to the recovery of wild kiwi populations in New Zealand.
o
o Captive populations of kiwi both in New Zealand and overseas are coordinated as formal programmes.
o

ENDS

© Scoop Media