DOC's work with takahē
Takahē recovery plan
The Department of Conservation's Takahē Recovery Plan, supported by Mitre 10 New Zealand, focuses on establishing self-sustaining populations in Fiordland and on predator-free islands.
Considerable research has been undertaken on reproductive biology, feeding and nutrition, and impacts of deer and predators.
Tracking Takahē with radio telemetry
An endangered species
Takahē are classified as an endangered species and are managed by the Department of Conservation. To help conserve the species, a few pairs of takahē have been established on four islands: Maud Island (Marlborough Sounds), Mana Island (off Wellington's west coast), Kapiti Island (north of Mana) and Tiritiri Matangi Island (Hauraki Gulf). Since 1984 these birds have bred and increased the total population on islands to about 60 birds. This shows that takahē may adapt to a variety of habitats. The Department also runs a captive breeding and captive rearing programme at Burwood Breeding Centre near Te Anau.
Breeding programme
Since 1983, the Department has been involved in managing takahē nests to boost the birds' recovery. Artificial incubation of eggs and rearing of chicks is carried out at the Burwood Bush rearing unit, Te Anau, where five pairs are held to form a small breeding group.
Chicks are reared with minimal human contact, being fed and brooded through the use of puppets and models. `Excess' eggs from wild nests are also managed at the unit to produce birds suitable for freeing back into the wild population in the Murchison Mountains. Some of these captive-reared birds have been used as stock to establish the offshore island population.
Pest management
An important management development has been the stringent control of deer in the Murchison Mountains and other takahē areas of Fiordland National Park. Following the introduction of deer hunting by helicopter, deer numbers have decreased dramatically and alpine vegetation is now recovering from years of heavy browsing. This improvement in its habitat has helped to increase takahē breeding success and survival. Current research aims to measure the impact of attacks by stoats and thus decide whether stoats are a significant problem requiring management.
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