Takahe to be released in Kahurangi National Park early next year

Wednesday, 23 August 2017

Wild takahe will be released in the Gouland Downs next year.

Takahe will not be shifted to the Kahurangi National Park until next year, after bad weather and early breeding thwarted the move.

A group of 23 takahe were due to arrive at their new home at Gouland Downs on the Heaphy track, in Kahurangi National Park, this month, followed by another seven in January 2018.

It will be the second wild population of takahe outside Fiordland and predator free sanctuaries.

Department of Conservation takahe Operations Manager Deidre Vercoe said early August had not delivered the weather required for the move and it would take place next year.

'The Takahe Recovery Team, iwi and partners put in a huge effort to prepare for this transfer, but after several weather delays early in the month, it became apparent that the birds had other things on their minds.'

August was selected a the transfer month as it was after the hardest part of winter, yet prior to the breeding season.

Transfers are not carried out in the middle of the breeding season, due to an increased risk of harm to a female bird.

DOC Takahe Senior Ranger Glen Greaves said despite the delay, the translocation would be a huge boost to the recovery of the species.

'With the population now at more than 300 birds the Programme is starting to run out of space at the current takahe sanctuaries and establishing new wild sites is the best option to house this growing population.'

Gouland Downs in Kahurangi National Park was selected because of its large areas of intact tussock grassland and extensive predator control network. If successful, it could accommodate up to 40 pairs in the future.

'Currently takahe are only found in the wild in the remote Murchison Mountains of Fiordland. The Programme's long-term goal is to have self-sustaining populations of takahe roaming wild in their former natural range,' Greaves says.

'This move to Kahurangi National Park, where they've been absent from for more than 100 years, will be a big step towards achieving that goal.'