Another Kiwi Has Fallen Victim to a Suspected Dog Attack in The Eastern Bay of Plenty

Whakatāne Kiwi Trust kiwi management coordinator said two kiwi were found within 10 days of each other near Latham’s track. A third was found recently on Murphy’s Road, off White Pine Bush Road.

While the most recent bird picked up has not yet had a post-mortem, Whakatāne Kiwi Trust said, “circumstances sadly suggest another likely dog attack.”

These deaths have prompted a warning from the Trust for dog owners to ensure their properties are secure.

It stated that there are concerns now about roaming or lost dogs in the area, and residents in the Murphy Road area and surrounding areas should keep their dogs securely contained at all times.  

“If this is the case, it’s important to understand that a single dog can kill multiple kiwi, often without anyone knowing it’s happening,” explains the Trust, and responsible dog ownership “can be the difference between life and death for kiwi.”

“Kiwi are taonga, and the bush and rural edges around our community are critical habitat for them. One moment of care can save a kiwi’s life.”  

Kiwi management coordinator Claire Travers said it’s not just kiwi that are at risk of dog attacks, “it's weka and all the other bird life that can get caught.”

“We're so fortunate, and there aren't many other areas that have kiwi living as close as they do to the houses,” she adds.  

“Don't let your dogs wander. Just be responsible. Love your pet. There's also the risk of it getting run down on the road if it's wandering. Doesn't show great respect to your dog if you just let your dog wander.”

Action has been taken on Latham’s track following the attacks; the dogs-on-leads area was shifted to well before the bush section of the track, and signage was installed.  

Travers said it’s unfortunate that some people don’t put their dogs on leads, especially when the track crosses private property.

She said it is important to keep your dog on a lead, even if the track doesn’t require it.  

“It's always easy to say my dog will not do that, but when your dog is out of sight, you don't know what the dog's doing, and no matter how well trained they are, even people who have done the kiwi aversion training, their dog still needs regular retraining just to keep getting that message across.”

“It just shows your respect for the walk and the property you're on, but also for the wildlife that is in there,” she adds.  

Travers recommends that all dogs, pets, and hunting dogs take part in kiwi aversion training, which teaches dogs to avoid the smell of kiwi and weka.

Three Kiwi have been found dead so far this year. (IMAGE SUPPLIED: Whakatāne Kiwi Trust)

Kiwi’s strong smell, habit of living in shallow burrows, and inability to fly make them extremely vulnerable to the threat of dogs.  

“Once a dog has killed a kiwi, they develop a taste for kiwi and will most likely kill again; one dog can decimate a kiwi population,” said the Trust.

Travers explained that dogs tend to shake kiwi, which causes significant internal damage.

“This last one [near Latham’s Track] that we got the post-mortem from basically had a split liver, split stomach, the lungs were split too, broken hips, broken ribs, broken sternum, and bled to death. It had no bite marks on the outside, just faint little bruises.”

She said it is heartbreaking to see things like this happening, “when it doesn't have to happen.”