Vini kuhlii

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Bibliography

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	AVES	PSITTACIFORMES	PSITTACIDAE

Scientific Name:

Vini kuhlii

Species Authority:

(Vigors, 1824)

Common Name/s:

English	–	Kuhl's Lorikeet, Rimatara Lorikeet, Rimitara Lorikeet
Spanish	–	Lori de Rimitara

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Endangered B1ab(v) ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Mahood, S., Butchart, S.

Contributor/s:

Gouni, A., McCormack, G., Raust, P.

Justification:
This species qualifies as Endangered because it has a very small distribution, on four islands, and is assumed to be undergoing a continuing slow decline owing to predation by black rats. However, recent reintroduction efforts could reverse its fortunes and lead to a population increase.

History:

2004	–	Endangered
2000	–	Endangered
1996	–	Endangered
1994	–	Endangered

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Vini kuhlii is restricted to Rimatara in the Tubuai Islands (and according to local people may have occurred on Rurutu in the past²). W.Ellis contrasted Rimatara with Rurutu in the 1820 by saying that Rimatara is known to have many colourful parrots, and there is no other historic or archeological reason for believing that the lorikeet was naturalised on Rurutu¹², French Polynesia, and to Teraina (= Washington), Tabuaeran (= Fanning) and Kiritimati (= Christmas Island), Kiribati. Fossil and oral traditions indicate that the species was formerly on at least five of the Southern Cook Islands^1,4. On Rimatara, the population was estimated at c.905 birds (minimum) following survey work in 1992¹, and then at c.750⁷, and then at 610 individuals in 2004⁹. In April 2007 twenty-seven birds were re-introduced to Atiu in the Cook Islands from Rimatara. Atiu has similar vegetation to Rimatara and is free of black rat Rattus rattus, although Pacific rat R. exulans is abundant. On Teraina, the population is estimated at 1,000 individuals (minimum), with 50 on Tabuaeran, possibly fewer, on a single islet in the atoll⁵. On Kiritimati in 1999, a few individuals were reported to survive⁶.
Countries:	Native: French Polynesia; Kiribati
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	McCormack and Künzle (1996), Watling (1995), D. Watling in litt. (1999).
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	On Rimatara, the most favoured habitat is mixed horticultural woodlands, including coconut and Paraserianthes falcataria plantations, and it is rare in native makatea forest¹. On Teraina and Tabuaeran, it is effectively confined to coconut plantations⁵. It feeds on nectar from a wide variety of flowering plants (nearly all recently introduced)¹.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Excessive exploitation for its red feathers is the most likely reason for the species's extinction from the Cook Islands^1,5. A serious threat to all small lorikeets on Pacific islands is nest-predation by rats, especially black rat Rattus rattus^3,9. On Rimatara, extensive trapping showed R. rattus to be absent in 2000, while R. exulans was widespread and abundant^7,9,10. Extensive trapping in 2007 confirmed this situation¹⁰. On Teraina, there is no evidence of the presence of R. rattus, although Pacific rat R. exulans is abundant while, on Tabuaeran, R. rattus occurs⁵. Cats may be a threat on Kiritimati.

Major Threat(s):

Excessive exploitation for its red feathers is the most likely reason for the species's extinction from the Cook Islands^1,5. A serious threat to all small lorikeets on Pacific islands is nest-predation by rats, especially black rat Rattus rattus^3,9. On Rimatara, extensive trapping showed R. rattus to be absent in 2000, while R. exulans was widespread and abundant^7,9,10. Extensive trapping in 2007 confirmed this situation¹⁰. On Teraina, there is no evidence of the presence of R. rattus, although Pacific rat R. exulans is abundant while, on Tabuaeran, R. rattus occurs⁵. Cats may be a threat on Kiritimati.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway CITES Appendix II. In Kiribati, the species is fully-protected⁵. In French Polynesia the species is protected by national legislation since 1996, and on Rimatara it has been protected by a traditional tapu (taboo) since c.1900. 27 individuals were reintroduced to Atiu from Rimatara in May 2007^8,10,11. On Atiu a community contest has been organised to find the first young birds¹². Conservation Actions Proposed On Rimatara and Atiu, monitor the population every two or three years¹. Launch a major quarantine campaign to prevent the accidental introduction of R. rattus to those islands^1,9,10. On Tabuaeran, investigate the species's survival with R. rattus and take steps to eradicate the predator⁶. In Kiribati, promote greater awareness and enforcement of the wildlife legislation⁵. On Atui, train nationals in monitoring techniques to facilitate regular monitoring. Conduct awareness campaigns with the local population of Rimatara to explain why this bird is important^,9,10.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
CITES Appendix II. In Kiribati, the species is fully-protected⁵. In French Polynesia the species is protected by national legislation since 1996, and on Rimatara it has been protected by a traditional tapu (taboo) since c.1900. 27 individuals were reintroduced to Atiu from Rimatara in May 2007^8,10,11. On Atiu a community contest has been organised to find the first young birds¹².

Conservation Actions Proposed
On Rimatara and Atiu, monitor the population every two or three years¹. Launch a major quarantine campaign to prevent the accidental introduction of R. rattus to those islands^1,9,10. On Tabuaeran, investigate the species's survival with R. rattus and take steps to eradicate the predator⁶. In Kiribati, promote greater awareness and enforcement of the wildlife legislation⁵. On Atui, train nationals in monitoring techniques to facilitate regular monitoring. Conduct awareness campaigns with the local population of Rimatara to explain why this bird is important^,9,10.

Bibliography [top]

	Gouni, A.; Durieux, J.; Piquemal, D.; Albar, G.; Blanc, L.; Gfeller, H.; Levy, P.; Lau, N. 2007. Programme de conservation de la Gallicolombe erythroptère, Gallicolumba erythroptera. Gouni, A.; Zysman, T. 2007. Oiseaux du Fenua: Tahiti et ses îles. Téthys Éditions, Tahiti. McCormack, G.; Künzlé, J. 1996. The 'Ura or Rimatara Lorikeet Vini kuhlii: its former range, present status, and conservation priorities. Bird Conservation International 6: 325-334. Seitre, R.; Seitre, J. 1992. Causes of land-bird extinctions in French Polynesia. Oryx 26: 215-222. Steadman, D. W. 1989. Extinctions of birds in Eastern Polynesia: a review of the records and comparisons with other Pacific Island Groups. Journal of Archaeological Science 16: 177-205. Watling, D. 1995. Notes on the status of Kuhl's Lorikeet Vini kuhlii in the Northern Line Islands, Kiribati. Bird Conservation International 5: 481-489.

Gouni, A.; Durieux, J.; Piquemal, D.; Albar, G.; Blanc, L.; Gfeller, H.; Levy, P.; Lau, N. 2007. Programme de conservation de la Gallicolombe erythroptère, Gallicolumba erythroptera.

Gouni, A.; Zysman, T. 2007. Oiseaux du Fenua: Tahiti et ses îles. Téthys Éditions, Tahiti.

McCormack, G.; Künzlé, J. 1996. The 'Ura or Rimatara Lorikeet Vini kuhlii: its former range, present status, and conservation priorities. Bird Conservation International 6: 325-334.

Seitre, R.; Seitre, J. 1992. Causes of land-bird extinctions in French Polynesia. Oryx 26: 215-222.

Steadman, D. W. 1989. Extinctions of birds in Eastern Polynesia: a review of the records and comparisons with other Pacific Island Groups. Journal of Archaeological Science 16: 177-205.

Watling, D. 1995. Notes on the status of Kuhl's Lorikeet Vini kuhlii in the Northern Line Islands, Kiribati. Bird Conservation International 5: 481-489.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2008. Vini kuhlii. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 21 May 2012.
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