RALPH WENGE, CNN ANCHOR: The bird most closely associated with New Zealand is the kiwi. But habitat destruction, domestic pets and hunters have made the habitat have made the flightless birds a rare sight in many parts of the country. Now TV New Zealand reports on a program aimed at giving the species new wings.</s>GARTH BRAY, TV NEW ZEALAND (voice-over): This is the sound a kiwi makes. And this is the sound a kiwi has to make to fly. The little spotted kiwi, hunted to near extinction, now only thrives on Kabitit (ph). Predator free, the island's lush with bird live, including a thousand little spotteds.</s>HUGH ROBERTSON, KIWI RECOVERY MANAGER: The recovery population is actually sort of bursting at the seams.</s>BRAY: Hugh's here for the round-up, so's Ollie, trained to smell a kiwi from the wicker at 50 meters.</s>ROBERTSON: It's rather scary how easily a dog can find kiwi. We have a lot of problems on the mainland with dogs that, you know, don't have muzzles that just develop the game, I suppose, of catching and killing kiwis.</s>BRAY: Regardless, sixth brave couples and one juvenile are heading south to the city. (on camera): A fine day for flying, and while the kiwi will shortly be airborne for the first time in their lives, when they touch down at the other end, it will be the first time in ours that little spotted kiwi have repopulated mainland New Zealand. The destination: Karuri (ph) Wildlife Preserve, a mainland island. These artificial defenses should bring nature back to the city. Government's announced an extra $10 million for kiwi recovery. Home may be a hole in the ground, but a safe neighborhood doesn't come cheap when you're this big. From Television New Zealand, I'm Garth Bray reporting for the CNN WORLD REPORT.
New Zealand Takes Steps to Restore Kiwi Population