Birds rescued from exporters to be released into the wild

Plans are in place to release 109 Santa Cruz Ground-doves recently seized from wildlife exporters by staff of the Environment and Conservation Division within the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology.

Deputy Director of the Environment and Conservation Division Josef Hurutarau said the birds will be released into the wild soon, but no date has been set.

As the Government cannot meet the cost of keeping the birds, individuals from BirdLife International are caring for them at a holding facility.

Mr Hurutarau said the BirdLife International associates are willing to continue supporting the birds until they are released.

He said his division plans to raise awareness among communities in Temotu Province of the need to stop hunting the birds given their endangered status.

By Lowen Sei