The Endangered Species Foundation today launched a campaign encouraging people to help cute chicks this summer.
“Every year on our beaches, in our forests and near our rivers, native, endangered, cute chicks are hatching,” says Co-Chair, Tawera Nikau.
“These places are their homes and their nurseries. But sadly, there are many threats to these precious manu, including domestic cats, and dogs that are allowed to roam off-leash”.
The Endangered Species Foundation has started this campaign to help educate people how to keep our precious, fluffy hatchlings safe.
“We all love cute chicks and we can all play a part in helping them stay safe," says Natalie. “There are many things people can do, from keeping our dogs on leashes and our cats inside at night, to informing people where chicks are and protecting their habitats”.
Choose from Aotearoa’s most endangered bird, the tara iti, NZ Fairy Tern, to the Toroa, Antipodean Albatross and the Kiwi Pukupuku, the Little Spotted Kiwi. In return you will receive an official adoption certificate and a flyer to share about how together we can all keep cute chicks safe.
You can help cute chicks by adopting one today:
Why does it matter?
Cats kill many native species including birds and insects, and our kuri (dogs) are the biggest threat to kiwi. Over three months (between June – Aug 2023) 14 kiwi were killed by dogs in Northland. Community groups, DOC staff and volunteers work extremely hard to protect our native birds, and any deaths are taken hard by everyone. However, where people are aware, and in areas where there is both predator control and good dog and cat management, we are seeing native wildlife thriving and starting to come back.
Your donation will help us get the word out there this summer, so more of our endangered, cute chicks have safe habitats to hatch, feed and grow.
There are many things we can do
From keeping our dogs on leashes and our cats inside at night, to informing people about where cute chicks are and restoring their habitats, we can all make a difference.
As well as supporting our education campaign, here are some key things you can do to help:
If you have a dog, keep it on a lead and ideally get it to wear a muzzle when you are in native areas.
Get your dog trained in kiwi avoidance training.
Make sure your cat is micro-chipped and inside, especially at night.
Don't take your cat to the beach or other native areas where birds, insects and bats might live.
Stay away from roped-off areas and don't drive on beaches.
Volunteer to restore waterways, beaches and natural habitats in an area you love.
Your donation will make a real difference to the lives of our precious cute chicks by helping education people on what they can do. Thank you for your support!
Chirp, chirp, cheep! (Don’t you be cheap, that’s for cute chicks only).
If you would like to know more about this very important fluff piece, please contact:
Natalie Jessup General Manager Mobile: +64 (0) 22 121 5913 www.endangeredspecies.org.nz/donate