The death of Spark, a kiwi recently released into Ōtanewainuku Forest, has prompted a plea for motorists to slow down when visiting the Western Bay of Plenty area.

Ōtanewainuku Kiwi Trust chairwoman Lesley Jensen said in a statement she and the trust’s volunteer team and supporters were “devastated” by the loss.

“Sadly, our team recently found Spark dead on No 2 Rd, Te Puke after she was hit by a car.”

Jensen said Spark was one of the kiwi the trust had been monitoring after she was recently released into the Ōtanewainuku Forest following incubation at the National Kiwi Hatchery in Rotorua, and then time maturing in the trust’s kiwi creche.

“We are reaching out to our wider community to slow down when driving the roads that pass through the reserve as kiwi move quite quickly and have absolutely no road sense.

“We are hoping the community gets in behind our work protecting Kiwi up on Ōtanewainuku mountain by slowing down when driving in the area.”

Jensen said thanks to the hard work of the trust’s dedicated team of volunteers in successful relocation programmes and effective pest management, there were now about 40 adult kiwi living in the Ōtanewainuku Forest.

“Our kiwi population is increasing which is fantastic but this growth in numbers does mean the risk of injury or death at road crossings has also grown.”

She said the Ōtanewainuku Kiwi Trust volunteers managed more than 180km of trap and bait stations to give the birds a fighting chance in the forest.

“It was one of the most intensive trapping networks in the country.”

Jensen said the community could help support the trust’s work by being “kiwi aware”, driving carefully and leaving dogs at home when visiting the area this summer.

“Even the scent of dogs can scare a kiwi from its nest with the risk of precious eggs being abandoned.”

“We ask that our neighbours and people driving through this area also help support this precious taonga.”

The Ōtanewainuku Kiwi Trust is a community-based conservation Trust formed in 2002 by Te Puke Forest and Bird and other members of the community.

The Trust works closely with iwi partners, including Tapuika and Waitaha, the Department of Conservation and the Bay Conservation Alliance to protect the forest and its kiwi, kokako and other birds and animals.

-Bay of Plenty Times