Wildlife centre rewards Monte with visit to kiwi
A Taranaki boy’s determination to save kiwi got him up close and personal with the native bird.
After discovering Monte Woodward, 8, was raising money to buy a possum/stoat trap to donate to the Department of Conservation, Pukaha Mount Bruce Wildlife Centre invited Monte and his mum, Amy Woodward, to the wildlife restoration centre during the school holidays.
Monte participated in the Junior Ranger programme on July 12 and was given a behind the scenes tour so he could personally meet a juvenile kiwi.
‘‘Our conservation manager Todd Jenkinson gave him an exclusive, behindthe-scenes tour in our kiwi creche, so his wish of seeing the bird has been granted,’’ general manager Helen Tickner said.
The Lepperton school student was raising money to buy a trap for Egmont National Park in an effort to protect kiwi. He was concerned his children would grow up without the native bird and decided to do something about it. When the restoration centre learned of the boy’s efforts, they wanted to give Monte something special for his holiday.
‘‘Monte had a great time with us on the Junior Ranger programme,’’ Tickner said.