April 03, 2012

Halton sponsors kiwi breeding program

As Halton cares about wellbeing, it has become a sponsor of the New Zealand Conservation Trust, taking part in the kiwi breeding program. The program is run with the ongoing and invaluable support of Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, and operates the most successful captive kiwi breeding of South Island kiwi breeds in the world. One of the recently born kiwi birds was named as Halton.

Halton is a Great Spotted Kiwi, the largest breed of these nocturnal and flightless birds only found in New Zealand. The chick can be expected to grow to be 45-50 cm tall and weigh up to 3 kg. Great Spotted Kiwis are found only on New Zealand's South Island, and their numbers are declining due to stoats, rats etc. killing many young kiwis. It is estimated that 95 % of kiwis born in the wild are killed in their first year. This makes all breeds of kiwi highly endangered.

Halton (or the egg) was collected by the Department of Conservation in the Hawdon Valley, 2 hours away from Christchurch. When the chick is old enough, it will be returned back to the region. Halton, whose parents are Bonny and Clyde, hatched at the New Zealand Conservation Trust's kiwi incubation facility, housed at the Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, in Christchurch. Halton hatched on February 24th, and has been growing well.

Later in the week Halton will be joining other juvenile kiwis in a special predator-free area. After reaching the weight of 1 kg, Halton will be big enough and strong enough to fight off predators. He will then be transported to the land of his/her parents deep in the New Zealand bush.

Whether Halton is a girl or a boy, remains a mystery for a bit longer as female and male kiwis are indistinguishable. When the bird is older, a DNA test will be done to determine its sex.

The NZCT is very grateful to Halton Oy for its continuing support in kiwi conservation. Halton Oy makes a yearly donation to the trust enabling the incubation facility's continued operation and saving another generation of kiwis.

More about the NZCT at http://www.nzconservationtrust.org.nz/