Posted on: Friday, December 21, 2001

State to release nene on Moloka'i

By Timothy Hurley
Advertiser Maui County Bureau

Nene like these are being released on Moloka'i's Pu'u O Hoku Ranch.

The state bird returns to the Friendly Isle today following an absence of more than 100 years.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources is scheduled to release 10 young nene on Pu'u O Hoku Ranch with hopes that as many as 200 wild Hawaiian geese eventually will call Moloka'i home.

Under an agreement with the land department and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pu'u O Hoku Ranch has agreed to maintain or improve nene habitat for at least seven years by continuing its cattle ranching operations and maintaining open, short-grass areas.

Nene prefer the new grass shoots found in cattle pastures, according to biologists. In addition, these areas generally have water in stock ponds or mechanical water units and have fewer feral dogs, a known nene predator.

The "safe harbor'' agreement — the first of its kind in Hawai'i — gives the landowner assurances that no additional restrictions will be placed on the property because of the presence of the endangered species. State officials said the ranch eventually could support as many as 75 nene.

Today's nene release on the eastern tip of Moloka'i in the Cape Halawa area is the first of several planned at the ranch. Officials said they believe a nene population will be established on the island by the time the agreement expires in seven years.

Michael Buck, administrator for the land department Division of Forestry and Wildlife, said officials are excited about helping the nene return home to Moloka'i.

Hunters and predators were major factors in the historic decline of the nene. The species vanished from Moloka'i by at least the late 1800s and were almost lost to the entire island chain by the 1940s, but captive breeding programs came to the rescue.

Today, it is estimated that about 800 nene are found in the wild on Kaua'i, Maui and the Big Island, but their recovery continues to be hampered by predators such as mongooses, cats and dogs.

"The majority of good nene habitat is found on private lands being used for cattle grazing, which makes finding partners such as Pu'u O Hoku Ranch extremely important to the recovery of the species,'' Buck said.

Officials are aiming to sign additional safe harbor agreements to help other endangered species in Hawai'i.

"Working hand in hand with the state and private landowners, we can make a huge difference in the survival and even recovery of Hawai'i's native plants and animals,'' said Paul Henson, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service field supervisor.

The nene to be released today are from the captive flock at the state's Maui Bird Conservation Center in Olinda, which is operated by the Zoological Society of San Diego with state and federal money.