Bay Bush Action says these kiwis have been killed by
runaway dogs in the Opua State Forest. Photo / Bay Bush
Action
Pet dogs are being blamed for the deaths of about 60
kiwi, over the course of a year, near the Northland town of
Paihia.
Bay Bush Action posted a photo of dozens of kiwi corpses
collected at Opua State Forest on its Facebook page.
It said nearly all the birds were killed by dogs who were not
kept on a leash.
"Even the most harmless beloved dog can be a killer of a
kiwi: They need to stay on a leash where kiwis might be,''
the organisation's statement said.
Northland has the highest population of kiwi in the country.
Despite that, the average lifespan of kiwi in the area is 25
years, compared to about 60 years in other parts of New
Zealand.
In 2008, the population of Northland brown kiwi was
calculated at around 8000 birds, living in 25 clusters from
Tawharanui to Whakaangi.
It is estimated that the number of North Island kiwi declined
by at least 90 per cent during the 20th century.
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