New Zealand's Capital Sees Return of Iconic Kiwi Birds After Century-Long Absence
Wellington, New Zealand's capital, is witnessing a significant conservation effort to reintroduce the kiwi, the country's national bird, after it disappeared from the area over a century ago. The Capital Kiwi Project, a charitable trust, is spearheading this initiative by creating a predator-free environment to support the kiwi's return. Volunteers are actively monitoring the area to ensure it remains free of mammalian predators, which have historically threatened the kiwi population. The project is part of a broader national goal to eliminate introduced predators by 2050, aiming to restore the kiwi population, which has dwindled to about 70,000 from an estimated 12 million before human settlement.