Initiating a conflict with wildlife – the reintroduction and feeding of kākā, Wellington City, New Zealand

Abstract

Wildlife reintroductions to peopled landscapes pose socio-ecological opportunities and risks, and a responsibility to people as well as wildlife. Human–wildlife conflicts can escalate rapidly where anthropogenic foods and feeding cause wildlife to congregate and damage property. Those conflicts polarise attitudes to the wildlife and may cascade into conflicts between people over wildlife. The native parrot, kākā (Nestor meridionalis), was reintroduced to Wellington City in 2002 and we suspect that it initiated a classical human–wildlife conflict cascade. We tested for feeding-induced damage, and different attitude scores amongst neighbours using a postal household survey. We received 313 completed surveys, a 55.9% response rate, across eight suburbs. Minor to severe damage, costing up to NZ$3000 to repair, was reported to trees, buildings, and outdoor furniture. Seventeen respondents reported feeding kākā, mostly fruit and vegetables, but also sugar water, bread, and nuts and seeds, and we received surveys from 33 of their non-feeding neighbours. Feeding significantly increased reports of kākā, and kākā abundance was positively associated with kākā damage. Neighbourhoods closer to Zealandia (the wildlife sanctuary where kākā are fed) and the neighbours of people who fed kākā were statistically more likely to incur property damage than more distant suburbs and residents. Neighbours’ attitudinal scores about kākā and native birds were significantly negatively associated with greater kākā damage. The reintroduction of kākā has initiated a feeding-induced wildlife–human conflict. We discuss what can be learned from the experience with kākā in Wellington City for urban wildlife conservation in the future.