The New Zealand Herald

Rarest creatures thrive in DoC spotlight

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Millions of dollars are being spent each year to protect some of our most endangered species. Data from the Department of Conservati­on shows up to $3.5 million each year is spent on five species alone: $1.3 million is being spent on the whio/blue duck, $800,000 to $1.3 million on the ka¯ka¯po¯, $547,880 on the takahe¯, $300,000 on the Ma¯ui dolphin and $16,396 on the Canterbury knobbled weevil. A range of conservati­on programmes has been establishe­d, supported by commercial partners, aiming to build sustainabl­e wild population­s, increase breeding and create habitats. Devon Bolger takes a closer look

Takahe¯

The takahe¯ population was at 445 in the most recent count in September 2020 — a 45 per cent increase from 306 in 2015.

But the Department of Conservati­on (DoC) prefers to focus on the breeding pair numbers because that gives a better idea of the overall population health. There are currently 141 takahe¯ breeding pairs, up from 91 in 2015.

DoC senior ranger Glen Greaves told the Herald the ultimate goal of the Takahe¯ Recovery Programme (TRP), supported by Fulton Hogan, is to return the birds to the wild.

Previously, it was about saving the species from extinction.

At the moment, 20 sites around the country hold takahe¯.

Greaves said that over the past five years takahe¯ have become less endangered, demonstrat­ed by the bird dropping two places on the New Zealand threat classifica­tion list, from “critically endangered” to “nationally vulnerable”.

Whio/blue duck

About 3000 of the blue waterfowl can be found in the country at present.

Whio are among our rarest birds and only found in New Zealand — you may recognise one on the $10 note.

The number of whio breeding pairs that are protected increased by 151 per cent between 2011 and 2020.

There are around 640 protected pairs of whio on the North Island, and just under 700 protected pairs at South Island recovery sites which are protected with trapping.

DoC Whio Recovery Group leader Andrew Glaser said the department has spent the past 10 years working with Genesis Energy to bring the bird back from the brink of extinction.

Over the past 10 years, more than 5000 traps have been installed around the country to protect whio from predators such as stoats.

Ka¯ka¯po¯

There are currently 204 ka¯ka¯po¯ in New Zealand — a 67 per cent increase from 122 in 2016.

A total of 34 chicks fledged from the 2016 breeding season, increasing the population to more than 150 individual­s for the first time since the Ka¯ka¯po¯ Recovery Programme began. The birds breed every two to four years.

All of the birds are monitored with a radio transmitte­r so DoC knows the exact number in the population.

Unlike the monogamous takahe¯, using the term breeding pairs for ka¯ka¯po¯ is not appropriat­e because they do not form pairs, and one male can mate with many females, DoC senior ranger Dr Jodie Crane said.

“The ka¯ka¯po¯ population has grown substantia­lly over the last five years. Significan­t breeding seasons in 2016 and 2019 saw 34 and 72 chicks fledge respective­ly.”

The Ka¯ka¯po¯ Recovery programme has been supported by Meridian since 2016.

Ma¯ui dolphin

DoC’s most recent abundance estimate of the diminutive sea mammals is from 2016 with about 63 dolphins over the age of 1 year. A new estimate is due to be completed by the end of this year.

DoC technical adviser marine Kristina Hillock said the Government manages humancause­d threats to the dolphins using the Hector’s and Ma¯ui Dolphin Threat Management Plan (TMP).

When asked if the dolphin is less threatened now than it was five years ago, Hillock said it is a very short time span for the slow-breeding animals.

The dolphins produce only one calf every two to three years.

Canterbury knobbled weevil

The beetle was thought to be extinct until its rediscover­y in 2004 and is one of NZ’s most critically endangered insects.

The population of the weevil is difficult to determine due to it being incredibly hard to find.

The species is only known to occur in the Burkes Pass Scenic Reserve and since 2013 no more than eight individual­s have been found each monitoring season.

Only two have been found this year.

“Until we develop better methods to find them it’s difficult to determine how their population is trending and how effective management is,” said DoC science adviser threatened species Tara Murray.

A multi-year research programme aims to develop a captive rearing method so that when Canterbury knobbled weevils are detected, they can be brought into captivity to increase numbers.

“This is necessary if we want to establish new population­s in safer locations. We also need to be confident we can hold individual­s in captivity to develop and test more effective monitoring methods.” Historical­ly, the weevil was found

throughout the Canterbury lowlands with the northernmo­st sighting near Oxford, and the southernmo­st near Waimate.

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