Babies mark tuataras return to wild south
26 Mar 2009
The eventual return of New Zealand native tuatara to wild habitat in the South Island has been brought a step closer with the arrival of 15 baby reptiles at Orokonui Ecosanctuary near Dunedin.
Sanctuary staff say they’re delighted with the new arrivals and the young reptiles will be closely monitored in a secure outdoor enclosure.
The tuatara is the symbol of the Orokonui Ecosanctuary which was set up by the Otago Natural History Trust to protect wildlife and encourage departed species back to the safety of the nature reserve.
The sanctuary says it not only wants to bring home Otago’s exiled wildlife but also help enhance the region’s reputation as the wildlife capital of New Zealand.
University research
Scientists at the University of Otago, which supplied the tuatara to the sanctuary, are currently studying how the reptiles respond to the colder temperatures of the south.
Tuatara are native to New Zealand and once lived as far south as Bluff, at the southern most point of the South Island.
But all captive tuatara in the South Island, including those in Invercargill and Queenstown, now originate from the few dozen populations found on offshore islands in Cook Strait and northern New Zealand.
Warm soil for eggs
Project leader Alison Cree - associate professor in zoology at Otago University - said that because tuatara laid eggs warm soil was needed for embryonic development.
Several of the transferred tuatara came from eggs incubated in the sanctuary, so the soils there were warm enough for embryos to survive during winter, Professor Cree said.
It had also been found that tuatara basked more efficiently when sunlight hours reduced, and they remained active at temperatures as low as 5C.
Eventual release
While the new tuatara babies will not be on display, ecosanctuary staff and university researchers are in consultation with the Department of Conservation (DOC) and local iwi about the eventual free-release of tuatara within the sanctuary.
"We are hopeful that, in the future, a thriving population of tuatara will live in the ecosanctuary to inspire visitors to assist in the protection of this precious reptile," said sanctuary general manager Chris Baillie.
Other new arrivals
The tuatara youngsters are not the only new arrivals at the sanctuary.
The hatching of the first kākā chick has also thrilled staff.
Ms Baillie said two young kākā - "barely the minimum age" - released into the sanctuary last year had paired up, found their own nest hole, incubated two eggs and were now rearing a young chick.
The chick was about 40 days old and still had grey feathers, she said.
The other egg is believed to be no longer viable.
The sanctuary hopes to establish a breeding population of kākā that could eventually negate the need for a captive breeding programme.
Aquarium addition
The sanctuary is also preparing for another addition to its 307 hectare site. The native freshwater fish aquarium is designed to educate people about what lives in their local streams.
The project, which is being set up by aquatic biologist Noel Jhinku, is set to be completed by August 2009 and will form part of the ecosanctuary's new interpretive displays and education programmes.
Mr Jhinku says the aquarium will be the only fresh water display in Dunedin and would hopefully get people interested in native fish.
The aquarium will house fish found in the Orokonui Stream such as endemic native galaxiids (small native freshwater fish), common bullies, koura (freshwater crayfish) and short and long-finned eels.
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