Target: Honorable David Parker, Minister for the Environment of New Zealand
Goal: Protect kiwi birds from extermination.
Hundreds of years ago, New Zealand’s forests were the home to millions of kiwis, filling the night air with the echoes of their calls. Now, however, there are less than sixty thousand of these birds left, and the population is still in rapid decline.
Kiwis are threatened by extinction mainly because of non-native predators, lost habitat, and humans. They are almost defenseless against introduced predators such as cats and dogs, and their forest habitat has been radically cleared to make room for human housing and agricultural use. This means the kiwi has less space, food, and resources to survive. Hunting and trapping are additional threats. In the wild, 95% of kiwi chicks are killed, but at least 20% of kiwis need to survive for the population to grow. At this rate, these magnificent birds could vanish from the mainland of New Zealand in our lifetime.
Already, New Zealanders are trying to save the kiwi bird; in protected areas, the kiwi populations are stable or increasing. Yet, numerous kiwis live outside managed areas and these populations are likely to decline. And even within the protected areas, uncontrolled pets can kill many birds very quickly.
The kiwi bird is in danger, and extinction is an imminent possibility unless we act now. More must be done to spread awareness and to raise funds to support the efforts of the Department of Conservation and many community groups around the country.
Sign this petition to urge the Minister of Environment of New Zealand to support the Department of Conservation to save the kiwi bird from extinction.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Honorable Mr. Parker,
New Zealand’s forests were once the home to millions of kiwis that filled the night air with their calls. Today, there are less than sixty thousand kiwis left, and the population is in rapid decline.
Predators, habitat loss, and humans are some of the main threats to kiwi birds. You watch as their forest homes are ruthlessly cleared to make room for human housing and agricultural land.
Many New Zealanders have stepped up to protect the kiwi, and through their efforts, the kiwi populations are stable or increasing in protected areas. Yet, numerous kiwis live outside these areas and are thus still in great danger.
You must support the Department of Conservation and many community groups around the country to spread awareness and raise funds to aid the kiwis in their survival.
These precious animals could vanish from the mainland of New Zealand in our lifetime. I urge you, as the Minister of Environment of New Zealand, to support the Department of Conservation and many other organizations working to save the kiwi bird from extinction.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Kimberley Collins
one day all the species will disappear from earth because of one two leg specie so called human race.
well said Ravinder…..this is very sad to even realize.
The solution is to prohibit all hunting of any birds and animals in general. So pets cannot be loose or outside w/o a leash. All cats must be microchipped and dogs as well. Also vertical farming must be used for any new farming. No clear cutting for housing. Use already disturbed lands and build up, NOT out! Doing this will solve 90% of the problems Kiwis face. As far as non-native predators, never use lethal control. It is not their fault. Humans introduced them there. The best thing to do is either trap neuter and release or trap them and when there are a sufficient number of them trapped, send them on a plane back to their native lands.
Protect Kiwi birds to the highest degree, immediately!!
When a Country loses something so symbolic and native to its place, this smacks of ignorance, stupidity and should lose their standing within that place.