HILO, Hawaii — A male nene was likely killed in a hit and run, according to the Department of Land and Natural Resources. 

What You Need To Know

  • A male nene was crossing a road in Liliuokalani Park and Gardens early Thursday morning when he was allegedly hit

  • DLNR said nene are becoming more habituated to humans, as people feed cats in the area

  • The state agency also plans to test the nene for toxoplasmosis, a deadly disease spread in the feces of cats

The nene was crossing a road in Liliuokalani Park and Gardens on Hawaii Island early Thursday morning when he was allegedly hit. 

DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife received a call about the incident and a staff member retrieved the bird.

Nene geese are endemic to Hawaii and considered endangered. Their populations declined because of habitat loss and the impacts of introduced mammals, such as rats, mongooses, pigs, dogs and cats, according to the National Park Service. The birds were basically wiped out in the wild by the 1950s, but captive breeding programs helped recover the population. Between 1960 and 2000, thousands of nene were released on Hawaii Island, Maui and Kauai, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

DLNR is concerned that nene at Liliuokalani Park and Gardens are becoming more habituated to humans, as people feed cats in the area.

“Since people have been regularly feeding nene in the park for many months now, they’ve grown accustomed to humans (habituated). This is a primary reason we’ve pleaded with folks to stop feeding feral cats. Yet even after one woman was cited earlier this year, regular feeding is continuing,” said Raymond McGuire, a DOFAW wildlife biologist, in a statement. 

The state agency also plans to test the nene for toxoplasmosis, a deadly disease spread in the feces of cats.  

Unfortunately, the male nene’s partner has already had several traumatic events recently occur in her life. One of her chicks died of suspected toxoplasmosis in the spring. Another chick was abducted from a different Hilo park several years ago, but was eventually recovered, returned to its parents and later released into a bird sanctuary.  

“Nene’s normally have mate fidelity and will breed for life with their partners,” McGuire noted.

The DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement opened an investigation into the cause of the death of the male nene. DOCARE encouraged the person who hit the nene to step forward. They also asked anyone who may have seen a vehicle in the park early Thursday morning to report it. 

Michelle Broder Van Dyke covers the Hawaiian Islands for Spectrum News Hawaii. Email her at michelle.brodervandyke@charter.com.

Related Stories