Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-l7hp2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T18:02:05.189Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Multiple Kagu Rhynochetos jubatus deaths caused by dog attacks at a high-altitude study site on Pic Ningua, New Caledonia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2010

Gavin R. Hunt
Affiliation:
Department of Ecology, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
Rod Hay
Affiliation:
Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 10420, Wellington, New Zealand.
Clare J. Veltman
Affiliation:
Department of Ecology, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Dog predation has been cited as an important factor in the decline of the threatened Kagu of New Caledonia but direct evidence of predation was restricted to single kills. Here we report the first documented case of multiple Kagu deaths caused by dogs, which occurred at our 200 ha, high-altitude (800-1,300 m) study site on Pic Ningua. The deaths were discovered because we were radio-tracking Kagus there as part of our behavioural study on the birds. In 1993 we found 20 Kagus either dead (15) or wounded (5; one survived) from dog attacks in four distinct episodes over a 14-week period from late April to early August. Two other birds whose older remains were found also probably died from dog attacks. Of the 22 birds 18 wore radio transmitters; the four non-radio-tracked birds were found by chance. Dogs errant from a nearby tribal village were strongly implicated in carrying out most, if not all, of the attacks. They climbed around 1,000 m in altitude to reach the study site and attacked birds there on repeat visits to the site. The apparent recent disappearance of Kagus in forest neighbouring the study site suggests the dogs caused the deaths of most of the birds on the peak. Dog predation is probably an ongoing problem for the Kagu and the attacks at Pic Ningua are probably not an isolated incident. Protecting birds outside Riviere Bleue Park from dogs will require: (1) establishment of additional intensively managed reserves; (2) continuing education of the public and administrators about the need for Kagu protection and associated dog control; (3) involvement of tribal communities in Kagu conservation; and (4) enforcement of dog control laws. The events at Pic Ningua demonstrate the necessity for additional and non-connected reserves to safeguard against catastrophes and increase the probability of long-term Kagu persistence in the wild.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Birdlife International 1996

References

Brégulla, H. L. (1987) Zur biologie des Kagu, Rhinochetus jubatus. Zool. Gart 57: 349365.Google Scholar
Chazeau, J. (1993) Research on New Caledonian terrestrial fauna: achievements and prospects. Biodivers. Lett. 1: 123129.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Collar, N. J., Crosby, M. J. and Stattersfield, A. J. (1994) Birds to Watch 2. The world list of threatened birds. Cambridge U.K.: Birdlife International (BirdLife Conserv. Series 4).Google Scholar
Jaffre, T., Morat, P. and Veillon, J. M. (1994) La Flore: caracteristiques et composition floristique des principales formations vegetales. Bois et Forets des Tropiques 242: 730.Google Scholar
Jeggo, D. (1978) A preliminary survey report on the Kagu Rhynochetos jubatus of New Caledonia. Dodo 15: 2028.Google Scholar
Hunt, G. R. (1996a) Environmental variables associated with population patterns of the Kagu Rhynochetos jubatus of New Caledonia. Ibis 138: 778785.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hunt, G. R. (1996b) Manufacture and use of hook-tools by New Caledonian crows. ature 379: 249251.Google Scholar
Letocart, Y. (1991) Mise en evidence par biotelemetrie de I'habitat utilise, du comportement territorial et social, et de la reproduction chez le cagou huppè (Rhynochetos jubatus) dans le Pare de la Riviere Bleue. Service de l'Environnement et de la Gestion des Pares et Reserves de la Province Sud, Noumea. Unpublished.Google Scholar
Letocart, Y. (1992) Sauvegarde du cagou huppe (Rhynochetos jubatus) dans le Pare Provincial de la Riviere Bleue. Service de l'Environnement et de la Gestion des Pares et Reserves de la Province Sud, Noumea. Unpublished.Google Scholar
Mangel, M. and Tier, C. (1994) Four facts every conservation biologist should know about persistence. Ecology 75: 607614.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McLennen, J. A., Rudge, M. R. and Potter, M. A. (1987) Range size and denning behaviour of Brown Kiwi, Apteryx australis mantelli, in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand. N. Z. Ecol. 10: 97107.Google Scholar
Miller, P. J. and Pierce, R. J. (1995) Distribution and decline of the North Island Brown Kiwi (Apteryx australis mantelli) in Northland. Notornis 42: 203211.Google Scholar
Pisier, G. (1974) La decouverte de la Nouvelle Caledonie par Cook. Nouméa: Société d'Etudes Historique (Publ. 5).Google Scholar
Sarasin, F. (1913) Die Vogel Neu-Kaledoniens und der Loyalty-Inseln. Pp. 5560 in Sarasin, F. and Roux, R., eds. Nova Caledonia, Zoologie, vol. 1. Wiesbaden: C. W. Kriedels Verlag.Google Scholar
Seitre, R. and Seitre, J. (1990) Rapport de mission ‘Cagou’ du 25/4/90 au 6/5/90. CNRS/SRETIE, Paris. Unpublished.Google Scholar
Taborsky, M. (1988) Kiwis and dog predation: observations in Waitangi State Forest. Notornis 35: 197202.Google Scholar
Thiollay, J.-M. (1989) Etude et conservation du cagou (Rhynochetos jubatus). CNRS/STRETIE, Paris. Unpublished.Google Scholar