Overview

• A South Island hunter reported a female Kiwi Pukupuku in March in the remote Adams Wilderness Area, prompting DOC intervention.
• Ranger Iain Graham and his conservation dog Brew pinpointed the bird’s calls during a multi-day search and collected feather samples for DNA verification.
• Genetic tests have confirmed the bird’s identity, marking the first mainland Kiwi Pukupuku sighting since 1978.
• Apteryx owenii is the smallest and rarest kiwi species, long believed to survive only on predator-free offshore islands and enclosed sanctuaries.
• Genetic analysis of collected samples will assess whether more Kiwi Pukupuku persist on the mainland and guide habitat-security measures.