The Takahe Relocation Project: Creating a sanctuary in the Rees Valley
The Takahē Relocation Project: Creating A Sanctuary In The Rees Valley
The Rees Valley is an amazing natural landscape that borders the Mount Aspiring National Park and is home to incredible and threatened native birds like the kea, kākā, yellow-crowned kākāriki and rock wren.
We’ve partnered with the Southern Lakes Sanctuary to help protect this valley to ensure it's a safe and thriving habitat for our endangered species. This is a significant conservation initiative aimed at ultimately reintroducing the takahē, one of New Zealand's most iconic and endangered bird species, to the valley. The Rees Valley provides an ideal habitat for the takahē, with its native tussock grasslands offering ample food and shelter.
The project is also a collaboration between the Department of Conservation (DOC), Ngāi Tahu, and other conservation partners. It seeks to establish a self-sustaining population of takahē in the wild, reducing the species' reliance on managed environments like sanctuaries and offshore islands.
This project involves multiple stages, including careful selection of release sites, preparation of the environment, and monitoring of the birds post-release.
Project rollout
In August 2023, the takahē was reintroduced to the Greenstone Valley through the collaborative efforts of DOC, Ngāi Tahu, and Fulton Hogan.
Building on this success, we are now looking to facilitate their next stage of recovery by creating a sanctuary in the Rees Valley, ready for their planned introduction in early 2025.
Efforts are being made to create a safe and suitable habitat for the birds. This includes rigorous pest control measures to manage threats such as stoats, feral cats, and rats, which are significant predators of the takahē. Trapping and baiting programs are regularly conducted to keep these predators at bay.
Habitat restoration is another critical component of the project. This involves replanting native vegetation, controlling invasive species, and ensuring that the takahē have access to their natural food sources. The project also includes constructing secure aviaries for breeding and acclimatization before the birds are released into the wild.
Furthermore, ongoing monitoring and research are crucial to the project's success. Researchers track the birds' movements, health, and breeding patterns to ensure they are adapting well to their new environment. This data helps inform future conservation strategies and allows for timely interventions if needed.
Historical Impact
The takahē was once believed to be extinct until a small population was rediscovered in 1948 in the Murchison Mountains of Fiordland. This discovery sparked one of New Zealand's most significant conservation efforts aimed at saving the species from extinction. Historically, the takahē ranged widely across New Zealand, but their numbers declined sharply due to habitat destruction and the introduction of predators like stoats and rats.
Over the years, dedicated conservation programs have helped to increase the takahē population, but they remain critically endangered, with fewer than 500 birds in existence. Creating a sanctuary in the Rees Valley is a critical step in the long-term recovery plan for the species, aiming to establish new wild populations and increase genetic diversity.
The success of this project will contribute significantly to the conservation of the takahē and also provide valuable lessons for other endangered species recovery efforts.
How will we make it happen?
We are proud to have raised over $150k through our 2024 RealNZ Conservation Ball. These important funds will go toward creating a sanctuary in the Rees Valley and the eventual relocation of the takahē.
Do you want to help? You can make a donation below.
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