A popular Hilo nēnē is second to die this year at Liliʻuokalani Park and Gardens

During an early morning walk Thursday at Liliʻuokalani Park and Gardens in Hilo, three regular park-goers witnessed the gruesome sight of a deceased nēnē on Lihiwai Street.

The nēnē, tagged 595, had been killed in an apparent hit and run earlier that morning in a location just after the crosswalk between the Liliʻuokalani Gardens and the Moku Ola parking lot. 

The 12-year-old male nēnē was sprawled only feet away from one of the park’s “SLOW Endangered Wildlife” signs, which was posted underneath the 10 miles per hour speed limit sign. 

“What else is there that one could do? I really don’t know what else we could have done to prevent this awful occurrence,” said K.T. Cannon-Eger, president of the Friends of Liliʻuokalani Gardens. “There is a similar problem in the national park and Keaukaha — people are driving too fast for the conditions.”

It was the second nēnē this year to die at the popular Hilo park. In April, 595 and his partner, tagged NTC, lost their gosling to toxoplasmosis, an infection spread only in the feces of feral cats, according to the Department of Land and Natural Resources. 

The state Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement has stepped up patrol in Lili‘uokalani Park and cited individuals for violating state endangered and threatened species laws, which prohibit the feeding of protected wildlife. This includes providing cat food, which nēnē may eat.

Jordan Lerma, a biologist with Nēnē Research and Conservation, said that although 595 was struck by a car, the regular feeding of the feral cat colony also contributed to his death since the nēnē have been crossing the street to get to the cat food being placed near the Moku Ola and Hilo Hawaiian parking lots. 

“Cat-feeding folk are leaving the food on the other side of the street since they can do it without being seen and the nēnē found it quickly,” Lerma said. “This was a particularly tough death, because 595 has spent most of his adult life in Hilo and is the most sighted bird in our database. His partner will most likely lay eggs soon, so it’s all around heartbreaking.”

NTC was seen near the site of 595’s death, which is common for the bird that mates for life. NTC and 595 also had a chick nicknamed Orion and banded as NYN, which was abducted from another Hilo park several years ago. While Orion was recovered and returned to its parents, the chick ultimately was released into a bird sanctuary, according to the state.

Staff from the state Division of Forestry and Wildlife monitored NTC on Thursday to ensure she stayed safely away from the road. 

“Since people have been regularly feeding nēnē in the park for many months now, they’ve grown accustomed to humans,” state biologist Raymond McGuire said in a press release. “This is a primary reason we’ve pleaded with folks to stop feeding feral cats.” 

The Division of Forestry and Wildlife received the call about the 6 a.m. incident before its offices opened. A staff member responded and picked up the bird. The division plans to test the dead nēnē for toxoplasmosis.

“I have talked with cat feeders and many of them do tell me they are deeply troubled by all the events regarding cats and nēnē,” Lerma said. “There are feeders that bring the cat food, watch the cats eat and pick up anything left before leaving, which is much better than just leaving the food there.”

The nēnē population was once estimated at 25,000 in the mid-1800s and was reduced to 30 birds on the Big Island by 1949. After a considerable international effort by wildlife biologists, the population now narrowly breaks 1,000, according to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.

The state wildlife division has opened an investigation into the hit and run and is encouraging anyone who may have seen the vehicle early Thursday morning to report it, or for the person who hit the bird to step forward.

Witnesses can call the state conservation enforcement division at 800-643-DLNR or they can call the local branch office in Hilo at 808-933-3460.

“This is a place where people are crossing the road, and where children often run ahead of their parents. People should be traveling slowly,” Cannon-Eger said. “This is another reminder to slow down, take it easy, enjoy the view and to pay attention.”