DOC's work with tahr
Helicopter used for tahr control
What is being done?
Eradication of tahr is not feasible; The Department of Conservation's management policy for tahr is to control numbers in critical sites of high conservation value. Recreational and commercial hunters as well as the Department contribute to tahr control.
The Himalayan Thar Control Plan 1993 is prepared under the Wild Animal Control Act 1977, has guided DOC's control work for the last decade, setting targets to keep the thar population below 10,000 overall, and below specific densities in areas with high ecological value. Numbers have been monitored regularly to follow trends in the population, monitor the effects of hunting and to help analyse vegetation impacts research.
Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park is a national treasure. It is internationally recognised for its natural, cultural and landscape values. What price would you put on that trophy?