Journal Articles

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/7915

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Start date: 2022Subject: search.filters.subject.kiwi

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    Survey of husbandry practices and captive environments for North Island brown kiwi (Apteryx mantelli) housed in facilities within and outside New Zealand
    (Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Universities Federation for Animal Welfare, 2025-06-20) Connor RL; Ling N; Beausoleil NJ; Descovich K; Jenkinson T
    North Island brown kiwi (Apteryx mantelli), endemic to New Zealand (NZ), are held in captivity both within and outside of NZ. However, more knowledge is required regarding how kiwi are housed and managed. This study aimed to characterise the demographics and reported health/ behavioural issues of the captive population of kiwi, investigate current housing and husbandry practices, and explore the association between reported behavioural problems and housing practices. Between November 2021 and June 2022, all 31 facilities holding kiwi were invited to participate in a questionnaire. Thirteen facilities within NZ (92.9% response rate) and ten elsewhere in the world (58.8%) responded, covering 97 kiwi in NZ (93.3%) and 40 outside NZ (83.3%). Kiwi in NZ were younger on average than birds elsewhere. Environmental conditions, including enclosure size, temperature, and lighting, varied across facilities. Health issues were reported in 39% of kiwi and behavioural in 20%, with common behavioural issues including stereotypical or reproduction-related behaviours. Kiwi in those facilities outside of NZ were heavier and housed in smaller enclosures. Kiwi in nocturnal houses were more likely to be reported as displaying behavioural problems than off-display enclosures. A higher proportion of NZ kiwi were housed in nocturnal houses compared to elsewhere, and one in five NZ kiwi were reported as displaying a behavioural problem, compared to 1/8 in other countries. Behavioural issues in kiwi may be underreported due to their nocturnal nature, and both behavioural and health challenges could negatively impact their welfare. Further research is essential to optimise captive conditions and improve health, behaviour, and welfare outcomes for this iconic species.
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    No evidence for sampling bias caused by capture method or time in Apteryx mantelli
    (New Zealand Ecological Society, 2023-06-14) Undin M; Castro I; Witehira R; Wood J
    Sampling bias can have dire consequences for research. One potential source of bias is combining different sampling methods in the same study. However, combining methods can be unavoidable, for instance, when sampling method selection depends upon factors such as population density or terrain. A case at hand is the use of night-time encounter catching by people or daytime catching using certified dogs for studies of Apteryx mantelli, North Island brown kiwi, in Aotearoa New Zealand. Here, we compare these sampling methods to determine whether (1) combining them risks inducing a demographic bias to the sample set, and (2) they differ in regards to blood parameters used for comparing populations (packed cell volume, glucose, plasma protein, haemoglobin). Sixty-five birds were caught during the day from their roosts using a certified dog, and 62 birds were caught at night while foraging. The results suggest that both methods capture a comparable subset of a population, with the potential exception that more very young juveniles were caught using the day method. Furthermore, no physiological effects were evident from comparing haematological parameters. We also found no difference in blood sampling success between night and day, but observed that blood extraction was more difficult at night. Hence, we demonstrate that either method, or a combination of both, can be considered for future studies. Notably, we found that night-time encounter catching had a superior success rate in very high-density populations. Since this method also negates dependency on the limited number of certified dogs, we suggest that benefits may exist through increasing the utilisation of night-time encounter catching in A. mantelli research. We suggest that future studies should consider measuring the stress levels caused by each of the methods, and quantify the effects of habitat type and terrain on sampling success.
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    The Pathology of Fatal Avian Malaria Due to Plasmodium elongatum (GRW6) and Plasmodium matutinum (LINN1) Infection in New Zealand Kiwi (Apteryx spp.)
    (MDPI (Basel, Switzerland), 2022-12-01) Gulliver E; Hunter S; Howe L; Castillo-Alcala F; Hartup B
    Avian malaria caused by Plasmodium species is a known cause of mortality in avifauna worldwide, however reports within New Zealand kiwi (Apteryx spp.) are scant. Postmortem reports from kiwi were obtained from the Massey University/Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa School of Veterinary Science Pathology Register from August 2010-August 2020. Gross lesions were described from postmortem reports, and archived H.E.-stained slides used for histological assessment. Nested PCR testing was performed on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue samples to assess the presence of Plasmodium spp. and Toxoplasma gondii DNA and cases with a PCR-positive result were sequenced to determine the lineage involved. Of 1005 postmortem reports, 23 cases of confirmed or suspected avian malaria were included in this study. The most consistent gross lesions included splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, and interstitial pneumonia with oedema. Histological lesions were characterised by severe interstitial pneumonia, pulmonary oedema, interstitial myocarditis, hepatic sinusoidal congestion and hypercellularity, and splenic macrophage hyperplasia and hyperaemia/congestion with numerous haemosiderophages. Cytoplasmic meronts were consistently found within endothelial cells of a variety of tissues, and within tissue macrophages of the liver, lung and spleen. A diagnosis of avian malaria was confirmed via PCR testing in 13 cases, with sequencing revealing P. matutinum (LINN1) and P. elongatum (GRW6) as the species involved. This is the largest case series describing the pathology of avian malaria as a cause of mortality in endemic New Zealand avifauna.