Save the Kiwi: Creche for Chicks
20 Mar 2008
A new ‘kiwi creche’ in the Hawke's Bay region of New Zealand has opened, with four 20-day old chicks reaping the benefits.
The ‘creche’ is a 40-hectare area is surrounded by a 3.3km long pest proof fence and includes native bush, wetlands and a lake.
The release of the chicks is part of a project to save Hawke’s Bay’s wild kiwi population from extinction.
The project is the creation of the Environment, Conservation and Outdoor Education Trust with support from the Department of Conservation.
''Newly hatched chicks rescued from the wild grow up safe in a pest free environment, then are returned to the wild tough and street wise ready to beat up stoats,'' says Mathew Lawson, Trust chairman.
Since 2002 the trust had worked with the local community, the Department of Conservation and the Bank of New Zealand Save the Kiwi Trust, to restore a wild population of kiwi in local Kaweka Forest Park.
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