Chatham petrel
Once widespread and abundant on the Chatham Islands, the Chatham petrel was until recently restricted to Rangatira Island where competition for burrows with other seabirds saw the population dwindling.
Active management has allowed the population to grow and new populations on Pitt and Chatham Islands are being created.
Chatham petrels are largely confined to Rangatira Island and number around 1,000.
Cats, rats and pigs all prey on Chatham petrels. Broad-billed prions also compete for burrows.
Island biosecurity, burrow protection, fencing and chick translocations are some of the ways DOC is working to protect Chatham petrels.
Find out how you can help protect the Chatham petrel.
The Chatham petrel is a seabird that is threatened because its neighbours, another seabird – the broad-billed prion – pushes it out of its burrows. Watch this video to find out more.
The Chatham Islands are located 860 kilometres east of Christchurch. The last Pacific islands to be settled, the Chathams feature many significant archaeological and historic sites. Rangatira and Mangere islands are important sanctuaries for threatened species.
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