Decline of kiwi

Press, 27 February 1980, Page 24

Decline of kiwi

Sir, — If present trends continue, the decline of ■the kiwi can only accelerate. The increase on kiwi deaths result* ing from thousands of cyanide baits laid for opossums throughout our forests is shocking. How is it possible to police this vast opossum extermination programme? In what is described as epidemic proportions, dead and mutilated kiwis are being handed in, probably representing only the tip of the iceberg. Accelerating rates of logging of indigenous forests, motivated by callous greed and demonstrated to be entirely unnecessary, mean that the kiw is menaced from all directions. By making a concerted protest before it is too late, those persons professing a high regard for our singular wildlife heritage, could call a half to the terrible injustice to this survivor ,of -an ancient order of unique in the world and one x of our national emblems/ The Little Spotted Kiwi is af present almost virtually extinct. — Yours,'etc., ' ■ Ki HARRISON. February 25, 1980.