Kiwis face catastrophic predation pressure from stoats, rats, and possums introduced to New Zealand, with all species in decline without active management.
Stoat predation causes traumatic death for kiwi chicks shortly after leaving the nest. Females bearing enormous eggs relative to body size face physiological stress during egg production. Chicks that survive have extended periods of vulnerability to predator attack. Poisoning programs using 1080 aim to protect kiwi but also cause non-target deaths. Handling for health checks and banding causes acute distress in sensitive birds.