Kiwi Misadventure and its Association with Climate Change

Authors: Castro IC, Alley MR, Hunter SA, Marsland S, Alexander S
Publication: Kokako, Volume 30, Issue 2, pp 19-23, Dec 2023
Publisher: Wildlife Branch of the New Zealand Veterinary Association

Animal type: Avian, Wildlife
Article class: Scientific Article

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Abstract:

Kiwi are reliant on well-developed non-visual senses to forage and breed successfully in dense New Zealand forests at night. Analysis of post-mortem records at Massey University over the last two decades has shown increasing numbers of cases of mortality due to misadventure in kiwi of all ages. Drowning was found to be a common cause of death, and this occurred during both wetter and drier than usual months and was often associated with flooding. We also report mortalities associated with extreme rainfall. This suggests that kiwi senses may be inadequate for their survival during the extreme weather events now taking place with climate change. It is recognised that most deaths from misadventure in the wild will go undetected.

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