New Zealand's kiwi bird returns to Wellington hills after a century-long absence
Summary
New Zealanders are bringing the kiwi bird back to hills near their capital city, Wellington, after more than 100 years. The kiwi, a special bird to New Zealand’s culture, had disappeared because of animals introduced by European settlers. A group called the Capital Kiwi Project has helped move 250 kiwi birds back to the area to help the species survive.Key Facts
- Kiwi birds vanished from the Wellington hills over 100 years ago due to introduced animals harming their population.
- The Capital Kiwi Project is a charity working to return kiwi birds to Wellington.
- Since the project began, 250 kiwi birds have been relocated to the area.
- Kiwi are flightless birds with small wings and a unique look, important to New Zealand’s identity.
- Before humans arrived, there were about 12 million kiwi in New Zealand; now, only around 70,000 remain, declining 2% each year.
- On April 28, 2026, seven kiwi were released into the Wellington hills and also shown inside New Zealand’s Parliament for the first time.
- The project highlights the cultural and spiritual importance of kiwi birds to New Zealanders.
- New Zealand uses predator-free islands and sanctuaries to help protect rare and endangered bird species.
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