International attention for kiwi recovery efforts
Embargoed until 07:00 GMT (18:00 New Zealand) 5 December 2017
Two species of kiwi are on the road to recovery after years of
coordinated work to save them, and our other kiwi species would benefit from a
similar level of resourcing.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has
highlighted the rowi (also known as okarito kiwi) and brown kiwi as
international success stories.
The IUCN is up-grading the status of rowi and brown kiwi from
‘endangered’ to ‘vulnerable’.
“This means instead of being in serious trouble, these two types
of kiwi are no longer at such a high risk of extinction” says Forest & Bird
Chief Conservation Officer Kevin Hackwell.
“It’s great to have international recognition for all the hard
work throughout the country helping these species to recover.”
Rowi have increased from only 160 individuals in 1995 to 450
adults today, and managed brown kiwi populations are growing by over 2% per
annum, although unmanaged populations continue to decline.
The success is the result of thirty years of coordinated
efforts from the government, tangata whenua, and community groups including
Forest & Bird.
“The Kiwi Recovery Group has been an incredibly successful and
productive model for saving a species. We hope it continues.”
“Other kiwi like the great spotted and some tokoeka species
are still in serious trouble,” says Mr Hackwell.
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