New Zealand's struggle to preserve its unique biodiversity involves strict biosecurity measures and the Predator Free 2050 campaign. Indigenous birds thrived before the arrival of humans and the introduction of predators, which have caused mass extinctions. Introduced species such as rats, rabbits, and stoats have severely impacted native populations. The Department of Conservation identifies hedgehogs as underrated threats to native birds. Today, non-native animals contribute to one of the highest extinction rates of species in New Zealand, with predators inflicting significant harm annually.
Before humans, flightless birds like the kākāpō and kiwi thrived. The only native mammal was a bat. When the Māori arrived 800 years ago, they brought dogs and rats.
Nearly half of New Zealand's vertebrate species have disappeared since their arrival on the islands. Predators destroy an estimated 25 million birds, chicks, and eggs a year.
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