Last week, a nēnē family was reunited and relocated after an illegal capture and removal of its gosling from Wailoa River State Recreation Area in Hilo.

On March 23, Raymond McGuire of the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) received a call from Hawai’i Island resident Lilinoe Kahalepauole saying that she saw a woman, later identified as Meiqin Chen, grab a nēnē gosling from the boat ramp at Wailoa. Kahalepauole reported that Chen was feeding the chick’s parents, who were distracted by the food, when Chen allegedly grabbed the gosling, threw it in a bag, and drove off.

While on the phone with McGuire, Lili, and her husband, followed Chen while DOCARE and Hawai‘i County Police Department officers were called in to assist. Kahalepauole and her husband followed the car and were in contact with DOCARE and HPD until Chen’s vehicle was stopped and the gosling was found in an onion bag.

While the Kahalepauole’s helped officers locate Chen’s car, their three teenaged sons stayed behind in the park and helped a DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) biologist capture the gosling’s parents.

The nēnē family is currently in an isolation pen at the Hawaiʻi Island Nēnē Sanctuary, where it is being monitored to make sure the ordeal did not interrupt the family’s bond.

 Chen was cited for three violations and is scheduled to appear in Hilo District Court on May 19.

 

DLNR Photo