DEVELOPING: New Zealand's Rare Birds Face Extinction as Backyard Trappers Become Last Hope

BREAKING NEWS: New Zealand's Rare Birds Face Extinction as Backyard Trappers Become Last Hope New Zealand's conservation efforts are shifting to a surprising solution: backyard trappers. The country's rare bird species, including the iconic kiwi, face extinction due to invasive predators such as rats and brushtail possums. The crisis is most pressing in Dunedin, where local student-led groups have taken it upon themselves to trap these invasive animals. "We've had a significant increase in rat and possum numbers," says Finn Hibbert, 18, a member of the Town Belt Kaitiaki group. "Our traps are effective, but we need more help." The situation is dire: New Zealand's native bird population has declined by over 50% in recent years. The kiwi, once a symbol of national pride, now teeters on the brink of extinction. Conservation efforts have been underway for decades, but the scale of the problem requires drastic measures. Backyard trappers are being recruited to help control the invasive animal populations, with some groups reporting success rates as high as 90%. "This is not just a conservation issue; it's an economic one," says a spokesperson for the New Zealand Department of Conservation. "If we lose our native bird species, it will have far-reaching consequences for our tourism industry and local communities." The government has pledged support for backyard trappers, providing resources and training to help them effectively manage invasive animal populations. This is a developing story, with updates expected in the coming days as more information becomes available. *This is a developing story. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available. Based on reporting from Npr.*