SOKK Website

Environment, Conservation and Outdoor Education Trust

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  • The SOKK Project
    • Monitoring and health checks: How it’s done
    • Predator trapping: Our major targets
    • The kiwi crèche at Opouahi
    • Biodiversity in the kiwi crèche
  • Stories
  • Our whanau
    • Our volunteers
    • Our sponsors
    • Our trustees
    • Our history
  • Education
    • SOKK as a classroom of the outdoors
    • Kiwi talks at the crèche
  • Facts and figures
    • Trapline catches – latest
    • Kiwi crèche update
    • Nester status – latest
  • USEFUL LINKS
    • Maungaharuru Tangitū Trust (MTT)
    • Biodiversity Hawke’s Bay
    • Guthrie-Smith Education Centre
    • Forest Lifeforce Restoration Trust
    • Manaaki Ruahine Facebook
    • Mauri Oho
    • Ruahine Whio Protectors
    • Save the Kiwi
    • Te Ngahere Facebook
    • DoC
  • Contact us

Predator trapping: Our major targets

Targeted territory

Over the years, ECOED, the Department of Conservation and Hawke’s Bay Regional Council have all installed traps on walking tracks, roads and farmland in and around the park.

The trapping network, which has grown to more than 1000 units, includes DOC200, DOC250, SSRT and Timms traps. They target cats, ferrets, stoats, weasels, rats and hedgehogs. Traplines are checked at least once every month.

The Jobs for Nature programme initiated by the government has resulted in Te Ngahere providing valuable support to trapping in the Kaweka Forest Park.

A stoat catch

Ferrets, cats and dogs are the biggest concern when it comes to adult kiwi survival; stoats predate on kiwi chicks – 95% of kiwi chicks are killed, mainly by stoats and dogs.

Dog attacks are particularly devastating to the volunteers.

Since 2020, there have been two confirmed dog-related deaths of kiwi in the Kaweka Forest Park. The true figure is probably higher. In June 2021, a SOKK volunteer found the body of a young male kiwi hidden under a shallow layer of earth. The kiwi had received injuries which pointed to an attack by a dog. Its attempted concealment pointed to an irresponsible owner.

A dog can injure or kill a kiwi very easily, because the kiwi’s chest-bone structure is weak.  It does not take much of a bite or dog mouthing to kill them.

So there are strict rules on taking dogs into the park. DoC says: “Only registered avian-aversion-certified hunting dogs, guide dogs, companion dogs (certified by the Top Dog Companion Trust) and dogs used for special services (including conservation management activities) are permitted in the Kaweka Forest Park. All other dogs are banned.” One aversion-certified dog per hunter is allowed. DoC’s full dog policy can be read here.

 

Stories

Cyclone Gabrielle causes major damage to the kiwi crèche – and the loss of two chicks

Monday 6 March, 2023DoC Rangers Kahori and Alan did a recce trip on 26 February to see if it was possible to get through to the crèche by road. … Read More

New kids on the hill

Banner Photo: Grant Russell from Stantec holding kiwi chick 'Stanley'Meet Stanley, our first chick release for the season. Deb had the pleasure of … Read More

Wow, a kiwi chick

Johno, our superhero kiwi in the Kaweka Forest Park, produced a kiwi chick and an egg (subsequently incubated at Westshore) in his first clutch of the … Read More

Stoats galore?

Thursday 26 January 2023Te Puia, (TP1- TP9) DOC250 traps, Hot Springs – Te Puia (370 – 411, DOC200, and CT13), Mangatainoka (W1-W15) Double … Read More

Johno’s fading signal leads to a double surprise

Banner Photo: Johno S and JohnoT in their transportation carrier for the ride to the kiwi crèche.Fiona and Robyn received a message from Deb … Read More

About us

The Environment, Conservation and Outdoor Education Trust (ECOED) was established in 2002 to halt the decline of North Island brown kiwi in the Kaweka Forest Park. At that time, the estimated kiwi population was about 200. In response to the crisis, ECOED initiated the Save the Kiwi Hawke’s Bay Project, which is now known as Save Our Kaweka Kiwi, or SOKK.

Our goal is to restore a healthy population of kiwi in the forest park.

Do you want to help?

From marketing and fundraising to trapping and kiwi monitoring, we'll be able to find a way for you to help.

Get Involved

Email: [email protected]
Lake Opouahi, Hawke’s Bay

Major sponsors

MAJOR SPONSORS

Copyright © 2023 · ECOED is a registered charitable entity in terms of the Charities Act 2005. · Registration No. CC27154 · Website by D2 ·