Author: McCormack, Gérald; Kunzle, Judith
Year: 1996
Title: The 'Ura or Rimatara lorikeet Vini kuhlii: its former range, present status, and conservation priorities
Journal: Bird Conservation International
Volume: 6
Issue: 4
Pages: 325-334
Keywords: Pacific; Polynesia; Cook Islands; Wildlife; Biology; Zoology; Terrestrial; Vertebrates; Bird; Lorikeet, General Biology/Conservation; Resource Management;Ecology; Environmental Biology/Wildlife Management; Terrestrial Chordata, General and Systematic Zoology/Aves; Psittaciformes; Conservation; Systematics and Taxonomy; Wildlife Management; Psittaciformes; Aves; Vertebrata; Chordata; Animalia; Vini kuhlii; animals; birds; chordates; nonhuman vertebrates; vertebrates; South Pacific Ocean; Quarantine Program; Reintroduction; Rimatara Island; Rimatara Lorikeet; Southern Cook Islands; Wildlife Management

Abstract: Fossils and other evidence from the Southern Cook Islands show that the Rimatara Lorikeet Vini  kuhlii, known as the Kura, was widespread in the group during prehistoric times and, it was probably extirpated  due to exploitation for its red feathers. Today, it survives only on Rimatara in the Austral Islands, where it  is known as the 'Ura. On Rimatara during 5-11 August 1992 we saw/heard 263 'Ura, and estimated the total  population at 900 birds. The mixed horticultural belt, about 32% of the island, was the most favoured habitat  at 2.2 birds ha-1 and it supported about 61% of the total population. The species was uncommon in the coastal  coconut plantations and central hills, and rare in the makatea/feo. Rats, especially Rattus rattus, have often  been associated with the loss of forest birds on oceanic islands and R. rattus is thought to be responsible for  the decline in other lorikeets of French Polynesia. A preliminary trapping study located R. norvegicus and R.  exulans, but not R. rattus. The highest conservation priority should be given to confirming the absence of R.  rattus on Rimatara and the implementation of a major quarantine programme to ensure that it is not accidentally  introduced. We recommend reintroducing the lorikeet to islands within its former natural range.