Lake Waikaremoana Hapu Restoration Trust working towards saving dwindling Kiwi populations
Client enquiry:
Dr John McLennan is a Kiwi expert and he has been studying the New Zealand national bird since 1982. His research showed that at least 90% of juvenile Kiwi on the mainland were failing to reach adulthood, with stoats being the main cause of the decline in mainland forests. In mid 2002 John approached Sirtrack to sponsor the LWHRT project (which was established in conjunction with the Department of Conservation) for an initial three year period. The objective of the project being to save the dwindling Kiwi populations.
Sirtrack response:
Sirtrack readily agreed to sponsor the project and over the past three years, the sponsorship has included the provision of free transmitters and the free service and repair of other telemetry equipment used by the researchers.
In return, Sirtrack staff have been invited to participate in the annual "kiwi call" census held each May at the Lake. The census is used as a method of mapping the demographics and population density and trends of Kiwis within New Zealand. Sirtrack staff have always been thrilled to have this first-hand experience, as it gives us a great opportunity to get into the field and to offer technical support regarding tracking.
Outcome:
Early results have thrilled the Trust and Sirtrack. Thanks to the combined results associated with the extensive trapping of predators, a predator fence, a predator-free Kiwi chick enclosure and the ongoing tracking and monitoring of resident Kiwis, the researchers have found that the numbers have finally stabilised and they are now marginally on the increase again.