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Dans le cadre du projet PROTEGE une enquête a été réalisée à Maré par l’Agence néo-Calédonienne de la Biodiversité (ANCB) auprès des chasseurs de chèvres ensauvagées. Les objectifs sont d’évaluer les pratiques et l’effort de chasse, le niveau de prélèvements, la capacité et la volonté de diversifier les techniques de chasse et à augmenter l’effort de chasse, au regard des dégâts constatés. Les chèvres ensauvagées (ou férales, Capra hircus) contribuent à la raréfaction de nombreuses espèces végétales natives et à la dispersion et au développement de plusieurs plantes introduites envahissantes. Aux Îles Loyauté des troupeaux de chèvres sont présents sur une grande partie des corniches littorales de Lifou et de Maré, où la chasse de la chèvre ensauvagée répond principalement à un besoin pour les dons et coutumes, et pour l’autoconsommation. Une pré-enquête a été réalisée par l’animateur PROTEGE (également agent de l’ANCB), afin de recenser les chasseurs de chèvres férales sur Maré et de prendre leurs contacts pour la réalisation de l’enquête. Dans un deuxième temps, l’ensemble des chasseurs de chèvres ensauvagées identifiés ont été contactés afin de répondre à l’enquête.

During 10–21 September, quantitative surveys were carried out of birds and flying foxes using the same techniques as applied in earlier surveys, and searches carried out for a rare parrot and lizard. Bird counts showed that the lupe or Pacific imperial-pigeon population has recovered following a decline between 1994 and 2004 though the current hunting rate is considered unsustainable. Miti or Polynesian starling numbers have gradually declined over the period 1994–2012 which is a concern and hard to explain. Rat predation is a possible cause. There was also an indication that pekapeka or white-rumped swiftlet numbers have declined though more investigation is needed to confirm this. We were unable to find any hega or blue-crowned lory though a few individuals were reported to us. Numbers are clearly very low and the next step must be to gain a better understanding of where the species regularly occurs so that management can be applied

During 10–21 September, quantitative surveys were carried out of birds and flying foxes using the same techniques as applied in earlier surveys, and searches carried out for a rare parrot and lizard. Bird counts showed that the lupe or Pacific imperial-pigeon population has recovered following a decline between 1994 and 2004 though the current hunting rate is considered unsustainable. Miti or Polynesian starling numbers have gradually declined over the period 1994–2012 which is a concern and hard to explain. Rat predation is a possible cause. There was also an indication that pekapeka or white-rumped swiftlet numbers have declined though more investigation is needed to confirm this. We were unable to find any hega or blue-crowned lory though a few individuals were reported to us. Numbers are clearly very low and the next step must be to gain a better understanding of where the species regularly occurs so that management can be applied.

On 6 January 2004. cyclone Heta devastated much of the South Pacific island nation of Niue. Extensive damage was done to forest, particularly of the north- western sector, with many trees up-rooted and others stripped of branches and foliage. This report details our findings from a survey of Niue's birds and rodents during 3-19 September 2004 and compares these with results from a similar survey in September 1994. Five-minute bird count data, an index of conspicuousness, from three transects showed that heahea (Polynesian triller,Lalagc maculosa) were more abundant in 2004 than in 1994, but mid (Polynesian starling, Aplonis tabuensis), kulukulu (purple-crowned fruit dove. Ptilinopus porpbyraecus) and lupe (Pacific pigeon. Ducula pacifica) had declined. The 28-64% decline in the lupe population per transect w as probably primarily as a result of hunting, rather than mortality caused by cyclone Heta. Counts of birds seen per kilometre along three sections of road (lower, upper, inland) were also compared with September 1994 data. However, for various reasons we doubt that the results accurately reflect population numbers. The 212 kiu (Pacific golden plover. Pluvial is fulva) counted at sites accessible from main roads in September 2004 was similar to the 226 seen in September 1994. Rat trapping results (captures per 100 trap-nights) along the same three transects for December 1994 and September 2004 were not significantly different. Both kuma (Pacific rat. Rattus exulans) and ship rats (R. rattus) were trapped, but kuma were found only in regenerating scrub, whereas ship rats were present in both scrub and forest. Recommendations for future work are made mainly in relation to the long-term conservation of lupe, a toaga (treasured) species of Niueans.