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Endangered takahe reintroduced into New Zealand’s capital

28/01/2011 15:25:23

One of two rare takahē released at the ZEALANDIA wildlife sanctuary in Wellington,

Takahe in Wellington
January 2011. Two rare takahē (Porphyrio hochstetteri) have been reintroduced into Wellington's world-first wildlife sanctuary, ZEALANDIA. This is only the second such translocation of this species into the wild on the North Island.

The flightless takahē are a real New Zealand oddity; once thought to be extinct, takahē were rediscovered in 1948 in a remote Fiordland valley. Thanks to an intensive programme of captive breeding, translocations, stoat control and deer culling spearheaded by the New Zealand Department of Conservation (DOC), the takahē population has seen a gradual increase from a low of 112 birds in 1981 to the current population of 225 birds.

17th species to be reintroduced into ZEALANDIA
ZEALANDIA was the only North Island site selected to receive takahē as part of the Mitre10 Takahe Rescue programme. They are the 17th native species to be re-introduced to the urban sanctuary, and by far the rarest species to be released. The birds - a retired breeding pair from DOC-managed Mana Island - haven't produced chicks for some years now and are being taken out of the breeding population to create room for younger birds. Nicknamed 'Puffin' and 'T2', the birds will help Rangers at the sanctuary educate visitors about the role of conservation in protecting our rarest species.

"Very few New Zealanders and even fewer tourists have seen a takahē in the wild" said ZEALANDIA chief executive Nancy McIntosh-Ward

Takahe facts and information

With less than 250 birds left, takahē are one of the world's rarest birds.
Takahē are classified as an endangered species and are managed by the New Zealand Department of Conservation.
Hunting brought takahē close to extinction but now habitat loss (primarily grazing competition from introduced deer) and predation by exotic mammals such as stoats are the main threats.
It is the largest living rail (a family that includes pukeko, weka, moorhens and coots).
An adult stands about 50 cm high and can weigh over 3 kg.
Takahē have lived to over 20 years in captivity but in the wild few birds reach this age.
Its wings are for display only - such as courtship and aggression.
The 500km square Murchison Mountain Special Takahē Area protects the last known natural refuge of the takahē.
A special captive breeding and captive rearing programme has been established by DoC at Burwood Breeding Centre near Te Anau.
Birds have also been transfered to Kapiti Island, Mana Island, Maud Island, Tiritiri Matangi Island, Pukaha/Mt Bruce and Maungatautari sanctuary near Cambridge.
Takahē were first transfered to Mana Island in 1987.
The closely-related North Island takahē (Porphyrio mantelli) is only known from skeletal remains.
New Zealand has the largest number of flightless bird species in the world.
For more information on the Takahe Recovery Programme, sponsored by Mitre 10, visit http://www.mitre10.co.nz/takahe/

Most takahē live on off-shore islands

"Most takahē outside of captivity live on off-shore islands or in remote mountain reserves. We're very excited to have the chance to share these beautiful birds with our visitors, and raise awareness about their long road to recovery. Thankfully, we have been given a second chance with the takahē, but in almost every other case extinction means 'lost forever'. Giving visitors a chance to see an animal we came so close to losing really hammers home ZEALANDIA's central message."

The takahē transfer has been made possible with financial support from principal sponsor Mitsubishi Motors; the Karori Brooklyn Community Charitable Trust and The Lion Foundation.

Puffin and T2 were released into a quarantine enclosure by Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown and Masao Tanuma, MD of Mitsubish New Zealand. They are expected to stay there until at least the second week of February. After then, the public should be able to see them in the Wetland area at the top of the lower lake.

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