Takahe¯ back at national park
The mountains in the Kahurangi National Park are now home to takahe¯ , after an absence of more than 100 years.
Lily, Rerehu and Dalrachney are three of the 18 takahe¯ that were released in Gouland Downs, near the Heaphy Track.
Department of Conservation threatened species ambassador Nicola Toki said the release of takahe¯ into the national park was a ‘‘milestone’’ achievement.
After a 36-hour journey that started in Te Anau, the birds arrived at Gouland Downs yesterday afternoon. ‘‘It’s so amazing to see them run off in to such amazing natural habitat,’’ Toki said.
A second release of 12 takahe¯ is planned in the following couple of months, allowing the birds to complete their moult, and the team to assess how the first birds are faring in the new home.
This would bring the founding population up to 30 birds. If successful, further takahe¯ will be released near the end of the year.
It will be the second wild population of takahe outside Fiordland and predator free sanctuaries.
DOC Takahe¯ Operations Manager Deidre Vercoe said after considerable preparation – including a postponement of the release last year – it was fantastic to return takahe¯ to a part of their ancestral home. ‘‘This translocation marks the next step in takahe¯ recovery. Currently, these taonga birds only have one large wild site to call home – the remote Murchison Mountains of Fiordland. Trying to establish another large wild population is a bold move and it might not work, but we must push the boundaries if we are to learn and make progress.
Conservation Minster Eugenie Sage said the release marked an important stage in the species’ recovery and highlighted the importance of robust predator control programmes.
‘‘The past couple of years have been huge for takahe¯ with the population reaching a milestone 300 birds and moving from Nationally Critical to Nationally Vulnerable,’’ Sage said. ‘‘We’re at the stage where we have a blueprint for breeding birds successfully – but without suitable habitat with low predator numbers their future is still not secure.’’
Kahurangi is the best bet for a new wild population to survive and thrive with its large areas of intact tussock grassland and extensive predator control including DOC Battle for our Birds operations and a large trapping network supported by Air New Zealand.
The programme estimates it could eventually accommodate up to 30 breeding pairs.
The Kahurangi takahe¯ release was made possible through the ongoing support of Takahe¯ Recovery Programme partners Nga¯ i Tahu and Fulton Hogan.
Manawhenua Ki Mohua, Air New Zealand, Mitre 10 and the New Zealand National Parks and Conservation Foundation have also supported the release.
Three representative birds were formally welcomed into their new home with a short po¯ whiri at the Onetahua marae. The birds will be closely monitored to track survival, health, habitat use and breeding success.