Calls to save Samoa’s national bird
Kiwis are being called on to help save the national bird of Samoa from extinction – there’s fewer than 200 left.
In the 90s there were about 7000 manumea. Now the manumea is an elusive bird rarely sighted in Samoan forests because of hunting, deforestation and predators, and leaders are calling for a hunting ban to save them.
Samoa’s High Commissioner to New Zealand Leasi Papali’i Tommy Scanlan said the people of Samoa loved the manumea like New Zealanders love the kiwi. ‘‘If it becomes extinct it will be a very sad day for us.’’
In July, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern launched a Save the Manumea campaign in Apia with the Deputy Prime Minister of Samoa Fiame Naomi Mata’afa. The Wellington Chocolate Factory is producing a unique chocolate bar fundraiser for the conservation effort. The Save the Manumea campaign calls for a ban on hunting. Manumea are being accidentally shot by people hunting the lupe, the Pacific pigeon.
Pigeon snaring was once a distinguished sport among Samoa’s high chiefs, but Papali’i said tradition has to change to save the manumea.
‘‘When they go hunting in the heavy forest and see the big bird, they can’t distinguish between the pigeon and the manumea, and they’ll shoot.’’
The introduction of shotguns to Samoa has also decimated the rare bird’s population.
Papali’i said the hunting of all endemic flying species was banned in 2004, but it hadn’t been taken seriously.
The peak time for hunting pigeon is in the lead-up to White Sunday on October 13, so they’re acting now to stop the hunting, he said.
Traditionally, Samoan households would consume up to 30,000 lupe every year, but Papali’i said ways were changing.
‘‘People are learning, and people are becoming more aware.’’
The manumea, also known as a tooth-billed pigeon, is also one of the last living relatives of the dodo.
The Wellington Chocolate Factory is producing their manumea chocolate bar from cacao donated by the Savai’i Koko plantation.
All proceeds will go towards Samoa’s conservation work to protect the manumea, including rat control, planting and ecotourism.
Wellington Chocolate Factory co-founder Gabe Davidson they had the idea to create 200 bars, one for every bird left.
But they were donated enough cacao to make 700 bars, 100 of which are already sold, Davidson said.
The bars are available online by presale but are still being produced.
‘‘Basically for us, it’s some sugar and some labour and a break from our normal production,’’ Davidson said.
‘‘The more I’ve learnt about it, [the manumea] the more I’ve been so happy to be part of it.’’