Hawaii Volcanoes National Park officials say a nene was struck by a vehicle and killed Tuesday on Chain of Craters Road near Pauahi Crater.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park officials say a nene was struck by a vehicle and killed Tuesday on Chain of Craters Road near Pauahi Crater.
The female Hawaiian goose, known as Green DU, was hatched in captivity in the park in December 1991 and was released in March 1992. She had successfully raised 24 goslings.
“It is a shame that a nene with such a long and productive life had to die so tragically,” said Rhonda Loh, the park’s chief of resource management.
About 200 nene — the Hawaii state bird — live within the national park, and there are an estimated 2,000 of the endemic and federally endangered birds statewide.
Park official ask motorists to slow down and watch out for the nene while driving on park roadways. The birds are quite active in the late evening and early morning, and their grayish coloring makes them difficult to see during those hours. Park officials also caution visitors not to feed the geese because birds seeking handouts often fall prey to oncoming vehicles.