Over the past 11 years, Rein, the dog, has been searching for kiwi birds. Now that she’s taken a well-earned rest, the cute four-legged beauty is taking a break.
A rare bird species, the kiwi, was conserved by Iain Graham and Rein in order to increase its population. It is believed that the dog helped discover 1,700 kiwis. As a result of her efforts, the population has grown from 160 to 600 birds.
In the wild, Rein is carefully trained to track kiwis safely. As she walks along, she encounters bird eggs that are prey to predators. After being gathered and planted at the West Coast Wildlife Center, they are moved to the reserve for around two months.
Only when the kiwis are large enough to be released into the wild are they taken to Motuara. Each bird released has a transmitter attached. The kiwis are nesting when their eating activity declines by 50%,” Graham said. About 30 days later, Graham and Rein go in search of eggs.
Despite being 100 meters away, the dog already knows where they are concealed, according to their owner. After the 6-month breeding season, the dog does not relax for the rest of the year. To keep an eye on the chicks, she goes to Motuara Island.
In addition, he changes the batteries in the transmitters of kiwi every 12–14 months. Rein, however, has reached the end of his career. “She is getting to the point where she prefers the couch to the bed. As Iain Graham continued, “she’ll still join us on treks, but retirement will give her a chance to relax more.”
