Once thought to be extinct, but found to still be alive in small numbers, the takahē is one of New Zealand’s most beautiful flightless birds.

With close to 300 takahēs known to exist in the world, a killing spree was decided to be undertaken by “experienced marksmen” on Motutapu Island, allegedly a sanctuary, to kill pukeko (another bird species) who have been said to be a threat to takehēs.

“We’re very conscious of the fact that the birds are an endangered species and that was the purpose of the cull on pukekos because of the damage that they do to nests and to eggs,” said Bill O’Leary, President of Deerstalkers Association.

Well Bill, this isn’t good enough. David Miller, who has been with the Deerstalkers Association for decades, even admitted that deerstalkers don’t have experience with shotguns or killing fast moving targets.

The four birds were found several days later, with shotgun pellets being the reason for their deaths.

There are other ways to help stabilize or decrease the overpopulated pukeko population on the island than to kill them. If there were no “marksmen” on the island in the first place, there wouldn’t have been the risk to the four, rare takahē of being killed!

Click here to read more and to take action.