The kōkako population in the Pirongia Forest Park in Waikato is expected to reach about 60 this year after the native bird had disappeared from the maunga in the 1990s.
Predators, such as rats, stoats, possums, feral cats and hedgehogs threaten the survival of the kōkako.
Photo: supplied
A joint project between the Department of Conservation and the Pirongia Te Aroaro O Kahu Restoration Society (PRS) has worked to bring back the kōkako.
About 40 were released in the park in 2017 and 2018 to kickstart a breeding programme.
Clare St Pierre from the society said with the latest nesting season over it is hoped another 20 chicks will be raised successfully.
Media Release: Visitors to Te Toto Gorge, a picturesque, and culturally significant site, just south of Raglan, are being urged to report people rubbish.
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Wednesday, 20 January 2021, 4:44 pm
Diverse native wildlife on Mount Pirongia in South
Waikato can flourish this summer, thanks to a successful
pest control operation, says the Department of Conservation
(DoC).
But the department’s claims are seriously
flawed says two outdoor organisations. The Council of
Outdoor Recreation Associations says the claims do not
“statistically” add up while the Sporting Hunters
Outdoor Trust said the department’s claims were simply
“demonising” the possum while using 1080 was damaging to
all life including invertebrates, birds and
animals.
“DoC constantly claim the possum is a
predator when it’s a herbivore,” sad Tony Orman
spokesman for the Trust.
Article – Tony Orman Diverse native wildlife on Mount Pirongia in South Waikato can flourish this summer, thanks to a successful pest control operation, says the Department of Conservation (DoC). But the departments claims are seriously flawed says two outdoor organisations. …
Diverse native wildlife on Mount Pirongia in South Waikato can flourish this summer, thanks to a successful pest control operation, says the Department of Conservation (DoC).
But the department’s claims are seriously flawed says two outdoor organisations. The Council of Outdoor Recreation Associations says the claims do not “statistically” add up while the Sporting Hunters Outdoor Trust said the department’s claims were simply “demonising” the possum while using 1080 was damaging to all life including invertebrates, birds and animals.