Maungatautari forest lives again
Rare and endangered New Zealand birds - including takahe, kiwi and kaka - are among the first introduced inhabitants of the new Maungatautari Ecological Island.
New Zealand’s biggest ecological restoration project has involved isolating 34 square kilometres of forested volcanic peak, total removal of all animal pests, and restoring a healthy diversity of endangered flora and fauna to the mountain's forest.
Maungatautari, just south of Lake Karapiro in the Waikato region of the North Island, is surrounded by pastoral farmland, and bordered on two sides by the Waikato River.
Restoration plan
The restoration plan started with the construction of 50km of 2m high pest-exclusion fence that was completed in September 2006.
Once the fence was in place, the Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust began poison drops to eliminate pests. Predators such as rats, stoats, weasels, ferrets, deer, pigs, possums and rabbits were eliminated by a combination of poison, traps and hunting. Mice were the final pest eradicated.
Kiwi chicks
Kiwi were among the first new inhabitants to be brought into the newly predator-free zone.
The birds were hatched at the Rainbow Springs Kiwi Incubation unit in Rotorua, and the Otorohanga Kiwi House. Then, in December 2007, for the first time in over a century, a kiwi chick was hatched on Maungatautari.
"Now we can begin to show the world that such large-scale projects for conservation can work, and that they are worth taking on," Trust chief executive Jim Mylchreest said.
Several bird species have been introduced to the maunga (mountain) over the past year, including kaka and a pair of takahe. The takahe have had two unsuccessful, but encouraging attempts at breeding.
Walkways
The newly constructed Nikau track in the southern side of Maungatautari showcases prime examples of the various plant species. It opened in May 2008, and is one of several public walkways.
The Maungatautari Trust requests that visitors remain on the tracks. No pets, including dogs, are allowed in the reserve.
Encountering takahe
Anyone lucky enough to encounter the takahe should keep their distance and remain quiet and calm.
"Takahe are critically endangered with only an estimated 260 left. We are privileged to have two on Maungatautari and need to make sure that we do all in our power to ensure their safety," said Maungatautari Trust operations manager Pim de Monchy.
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