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What’s New – January 2010
 Kiwi Return to Coal Island
On the 16th of December the vision of creating a safe
haven for endangered species became reality when 7 Haast Tokoeka were
released on Coal Island. The 7 kiwi released were the first of around
30 that the Department of Conservation expect to release on the island
over the next two years.
These kiwi started life in a sanctuary on the West Coast and
were raised in a DOC facility in Canterbury. They were later
transferred to Rona Island on Lake Manapouri where they awaited the
final leg of their journey to Coal Island. At one year of age they have
grown to about 2/3 of their adult weight and are not expected to breed
for another 3 years. The release included 6 males and 1 female. The
young kiwi were raised as part of the Bank of New Zealand Operation
Nest egg project and the Rona Island habitat is part of the Pomona
Island Trust project on Lake Manapouri.
The release was attended by a number of Trustees, volunteers, sponsors,
members of the DOC Haast Kiwi Team, sponsors and media.
Global
Support for Coal Island
In May 2009, South
African adventurer Mike Horn and his team on board the “Pangaea” to
spent 2 days on Coal
Island upgrading
traps.
The Pangaea Young
Explorers Program is a 4 year, global program involving young people
aged from 13 – 20. On each leg of the journey, a team of “Young Explorers” join Pangaea and
participate in a local project. While on working on the project, they
learn about important environmental issues and after leaving the
project are expected to act as “ambassadors” and help other young people
to become aware of these issues.
They were accompanied on the trip from Bluff to Milford Sound by
Trust representatives Allen and Sue Higgens from Wellington.
 Mouse Eradication
Following on from the Trust’s efforts to rid Coal Island
of stoats and red deer,
the third operational phase of the Pest Management Plan, the
eradication of mice took place during July and August 2008. After
months of planning and preparation, the “Fouveaux Freighter” sailed
into Preservation Inlet on the 29th of June to deliver the
cereal bait, helicopter fuel and associated equipment. In July and
August 2 aerial bait applications were carried out on the island.
With the bait now on the ground, it is a matter of waiting and
monitoring – it will be 2 years before we know if the work was
successful. For more on the mouse eradication read the October 2008
newsletter.
Public
Membership Launched
With
the work on Coal
Island now very
much “a happening thing”, the Trust has launched an
initiative inviting members of the public to become supporters of the
project.
More...
Successful
Stoat Trapping Program
After
6 weeks of pre-feeding, the 130 stoat traps in the project area were
set during the first week of August by a team of volunteers and DOC
staff. The results were outstanding with a total of 35 stoats being
trapped – 21 of these on Coal Island
and the rest on the adjacent “stepping stone islands’ and the
mainland. More...
Minister
of Conservation Visits
On
Wednesday 15 June, under stunningly clear Fiordland skies, the Minister
of Conservation Chris Carter visited Kisbee Lodge and Te Puka-Hereka
Coal Island . More…
Making
Tracks
In
February 2005, a team of 16 volunteers spent 5 days cutting tracks on Coal Island. The cutting of the
tracks which had been marked out by Kisbee Lodge caretaker Johan
Groters during the winter of 2004, was the next step in preparation for
the eradication of introduced pests from the island. More…
Newsletter
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