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WELLINGTON, July 17 (Xinhua) -- The Okarito brown kiwi (Apteryx rowi), a flightless bird endemic to New Zealand, is teetering on the brink of a growing survival crisis. Classified as "Vulnerable" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), this unique species is grappling with relentless threats from invasive predators like stoats, which have wreaked havoc on their nests and chicks, putting the entire population at risk.
Exclusive to the Okarito Wetland on New Zealand's South Island, the Okarito brown kiwi is among the rarest members of the country's iconic kiwi family. Though they lost the ability to fly, they evolved keen senses of smell and strong legs, using their long beaks to forage for insects and berries on the ground. Yet this unique adaptation has become a fatal flaw in the face of human-introduced invasive species.
Stoats were brought to New Zealand in the 19th century by colonizers attempting to control rabbit populations. Unfortunately, these small carnivores thrived in the country's predator-free ecosystem, multiplying rapidly. With exceptional climbing skills and acute hearing, stoats easily locate kiwi nests hidden in bushes or under tree roots. Since kiwi chicks remain in nests for months after hatching and adult birds have limited defense capabilities, over 60% of chicks fall prey to stoats, feral cats, and rats each year.
In recent years, the New Zealand government and conservation groups have launched a series of protection initiatives, including installing predator-proof fences around habitats, conducting targeted stoat trapping campaigns, and implementing captive breeding programs for chicks before releasing them into the wild. These efforts have helped boost the adult population of Okarito brown kiwis from fewer than 150 in the 1990s to around 450 today. However, low chick survival rates remain a critical barrier to population recovery.
Emily Carter, a New Zealand bird conservation expert, noted, "The battle for the Okarito brown kiwi's survival is far from over. Only through sustained efforts to control invasive predators and expand their safe habitats can we ensure this unique bird does not vanish from the planet."
