Tongariro whio release
Archived content: This media release was accurate on the date of publication.
Introduction
Six whio raised in captivity were released on 21 March 2013 in the Tongariro area to supplement the wild populations.Date: 21 March 2013
Six whio raised in captivity were released on 21 March 2013 in the Tongariro area to supplement the wild populations. The release was part of Whio Awareness month.
The three-month old birds arrived at the Tongariro National Trout centre with Peter Russell, whio recovery manager from Palmerston North. Department of Conservation whio rangers Alison Beath and Dean Flavell micro-chipped the birds, accompanied by Kiwi Forever students who were on a week long course learning about conservation values, predator trapping and kiwi and whio recovery.
The whio captive breeding programme is comprised of birds from rivers around the central North Island. This year was a record season for ducklings produced in captivity, with 26 ducklings successfully reared. Up until now, young whio bred in captivity have been used to re-establish a population on Mt Taranaki. Now with a thriving population on Mt Taranaki, some of the captive bred whio will be released back into the area where their parents came from.
Four birds were released onto the Tongariro River and two onto the Whakapapanui Stream. These locations were chosen because of the ongoing predator trapping by local community groups, which will greatly improve their survival. On the Tongariro River, the Blue Duck Project Charitable Trust has been successfully trapping since 2008. At Whakapapa students from Ohakune and National Park primary schools have built traps which are maintained by the Whakapapa Community Club and staff from the Whakapapa Holiday park, Skotel and Chateau Tongariro.
The enviro students from Broadlands School attended the release. They had been studying the Fantastic Whio programme as part of the Taupo for Tomorrow Programme with educator Mike Nicholson. Head boy Stephen Hinton and head girl Charlotte Harris were chosen to release two of the whio, a life-time opportunity for these young conservationists’.
Genesis Energy and the Department of Conservation have partnered together in a five year programme to secure the future of this threatened native bird. Operating under the name of Whio Forever this partnership is implementing a national recovery plan to protect whio breeding areas and habitat.
The support of Genesis Energy is enabling DOC to double the number of fully secure whio breeding sites throughout the country, boost pest control efforts and enhance productivity and survival for these rare native ducks.
Four whio released on the Tongariro River. Bonnie Lawrence from Genesis Energy, Charlotte Harris and Stephen Hinton from Broadlands School, and Nick Singers from the Duck Project Charitable Trust
Related links
Contact
Robyn Orchard
Communications & Engagement Advisor
Tongariro Whanganui Taranaki Conservancy Office
Ph: +64 274 761 769
Email: rorchard@doc.govt.nz