1 Sep 2023

Protecting Kiwi from string of dog attacks

From Nine To Noon, 9:20 am on 1 September 2023
All six kiwi found dead in Ōpua Forest in the past fortnight have injuries consistent with being gripped in a dog’s jaws.

Photo: Bay Bush Action

Kiwi conservation groups in Northland are deploying a wide array of tools to investigate and prevent more dog attacks, after a cluster of deaths, particularly in Opua Conservation Area.

Northland has been devastated by a string of kiwi deaths caused by dogs in the last few months.

It's estimated dogs have been responsible for at least 22 deaths since the start of the year, but that number is expected to rise when necropsy results come back on a further four deaths.

The Department of Conservation and the Far North District Council are investigating the attacks.

Meanwhile groups such as Save the Kiwi is working with DOC, iwi, and other conservation and community groups to reverse the decline of the kiwi population.

As part of that, they run kiwi avoidance training for dogs.

Kathryn speaks to Emma Craig, Save the Kiwi's national dog specialist and Northland Regional Coordinator, as well as Adrian Walker, a DOC ranger based in Kerikeri. 

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