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Hayden James / Supplied
Lower Hutt Kereru Rescue coordinator Hayden James says that a dead kererū found with a crossbow arrow is disgusting.
A protected kererū found dead with a crossbow arrow, though his body is just the latest in a series of cruel acts towards birds, says a wildlife rescuer.
Lower Hutt Kereru rescue coordinator Hayden James was called in to retrieve the bird from an address in Wainuiomata on Tuesday.
The bird was on private property and had likely flown there before dying a slow and painful death, he said.
Rosie ross
The dead kererū is the latest of several disturbing incidents of cruelty inflicted on birds in the Lower Hutt, says James. (File image)
“It is extremely disgusting to find out that people are doing this to our native species,” James said.
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He has been rescuing birds for two years and said he had never seen anything like it.
James said he was also recently contacted after a live chicken was dumped in an alley in Wainuiomata with its organs hanging from a wound.
Hayden James / Supplied
Lower Hutt Kereru Rescue Coordinator Hayden James says that in two years of responding to calls, he had never encountered a bird that had been shot with a crossbow.
He had also received reports of birds apparently mutilated with a knife or sharp object this week in the same area.
James didn’t think the incidents were related, but said it was unusual to have so many gruesome episodes so close together.
Angus Hulme-Moir, operations manager for the Kāpiti-Wellington Conservation Department, said the department was aware of the kererū’s death and was saddened by it.
“Native birds are absolutely protected and loved by our community, so we hope this does not happen again.”
THINGS
Since July 2016, 38 kererū have been treated at the Wellington Zoo Animal Hospital after flying out the windows.
It was unlikely that a culprit would be found, but Hulme-Moir said that if any information came to light, they would work with the police on a course of action.
Under the Wildlife Act, the penalty for killing protected species is up to two years in prison or a fine of up to $ 100,000.
Hulme-Moir encouraged the public to report acts of cruelty to animals or the killing of native species to the proper authorities.
A spokeswoman for the SPCA said they had not been informed of any recent acts of cruelty to birds in the area.
