PROTECTING THE KIWI

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1063, 29 August 1930, Page 10

PROTECTING THE KIWI

SOCIETY’S SUGGESTION DANGER FROM WEASELS New Zealand’s distinctive ground bird, the kiwi, which is in imminent danger of becoming extinct, may yet he saved if the suggestion of the Auckland Zoological Society that the protection on stoats, weasels, ferrets and polecats be removed is agreed to by the Government. This action was urged at a meeting of the board of managers of the society this week. It was pointed out that the Acclimatisation Society had already made a move in this direction. When the animals were introduced into the Dominion with a view to using them to trope with the rabbit nuisance, Professor Newton, of Cambridge, said that, they would probably attack the ground birds first, and this had actually proved to be the case. The kiwi especially had proved an easy victim, having lost all means of protection after centuries this country where the only ground mamal, the Polynesian rat, was a vegetarian. With the cqming of men, particularly of the whites, the balance of nature had been upset and the birds are now in danger of’total extinction. It was resolved to approach the Auckland Institute and Museum for its support. VISIT TO ZOO The president, Professor J. C. Sperrin-Johnson, will personally conduct a party of members and friends over the zoo shortly. During the tour he will give short talks on interesting species and new arrivals. The board further discussed the rules which will govern junior membership of the society, and decided thatt headmasters of secondary schools should give their opinions before any definite step was taken. Three prizes have been donated by the president for essays on the zoo. This will be open to both primary and secondary school children. talks by radio are to be arran i, and educational films will be ihown at suburban theatres.