"It's like holding a new granddaughter", a delighted David
Ellison said during the Haast tokoeka kiwi ceremony at the
Orokonui Ecosanctuary. Photo by Stephen Jaquiery.
Kiwi chicks could be scuttling around the Orokonui
Ecosanctuary by the end of this year, as 16 Haast tokoeka kiwi
have already begun preparations for breeding.
It has been just months since they were released on to the
300ha site as juveniles, under an agreement between the
Department of Conservation and two runanga: Makaawhio, of
South Westland, the guardian of Haast tokoeka, and Kati
Huirapa Runaka ki Puketeraki, of Karitane, which is
fulfilling the guardian role on behalf of Te Runanga o
Makaawhio.
They are the first kiwi to roam Dunedin forest in 140 years.
Orokonui Ecosanctuary Trust chairman Neville Peat said that
there were now clear signs the kiwi were becoming
territorial, which meant they were getting ready to breed.
He said the birds had been putting on "impressive" amounts of
weight since their arrival.
They were frequently seen out and about during the Orokonui
After Dark tours.
"They are clearly doing better here than they would be in
their natural habitat in the South Westland ranges.
"They're certainly making themselves at home," Mr Peat said.
Incubation of kiwi eggs takes about 80 days, and he believed
there could be kiwi chicks roaming about the ecosanctuary as
early as the end of this year.
There were no plans to release more kiwi at this stage,
because it was not yet known how big the their territories
were, Mr Peat said.
"We're not sure how many kiwi could be put on the 300ha site
without it becoming overcrowded."
- john.lewis@odt.co.nz
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