ZIP and Predator Free South Westland project
Introduction
ZIP (Zero Invasive Predators) is working to eliminate possums, rats and stoats from the back country, as part of the Predator Free South Westland project.How you’re affected
ZIP is working to eliminate predators across over 100,000 hectares in South Westland, including in the Perth catchment, which sits within the Adams Wilderness Area. Work in the Perth catchment is in pursuit of maintaining its predator-free status and will be ongoing throughout the tahr Ballot.
Helicopters are used to deliver staff to field sites. Work mostly involves maintenance of field devices and should be minimally intrusive, with the majority of activity along the full stretch of the Barlow River and Perth River.
Hunting areas that fall within the Perth catchment, and overlap with ZIP work areas, include:
- Abel Lake hunting area
- Barlow River hunting area
- Tiechelmann Creek hunting area
- Perverse Creek hunting area
- North Barlow
- Elizabeth Stream
A significant portion of the back country work for the Predator Free South Westland project is currently focused in the Burster and Price Ranges, well outside the Adams Wilderness Area.
No 1080 operation planned currently
There are currently no aerial 1080 operations planned for the Ballot period in or adjoining the wilderness area.
However, ZIP does have approval to carry out highly localised aerial 1080 operations in the event that an emergent rat population is detected. While ZIP needs to maintain the ability to quickly respond to predator incursion, they are actively working to minimise disruption to hunters during the Ballot. DOC will contact permit holders directly if ZIP advises that an aerial 1080 operation is necessary in during the ballot. If this does occur it is likely to be for rats and focussed alongside the Perth or Barlow rivers. The area of focus for the spot treatment is very unlikely to be above the bush line.
The most recent aerial 1080 drop was in August/September 2023. The area covered in this drop can be seen on this map.
View Predator Free South Westland Sept 2023 map (JPG, 1,633K)
What is the Predator Free South Westland project?
Predator Free South Westland is working to permanently eliminate possums, rats and stoats from approximately 107,000 hectares of land between the Southern Alps and the Tasman Sea, and the Whataroa and Waiau (Waiho) Rivers. Zero Invasive Predators Ltd (ZIP) has been contracted to deliver this work, which is starting to enable kea and other native animals and plants to thrive across the landscape.
Elimination is the removal of all predators from within a defined area, which is then protected against reinvasion. This is made more achievable by the use of natural barriers, for example, mountains and large rivers, trapping around the boundaries, and an extensive detection network that works to prevent predator re-establishment by way of early detection and elimination
