DAMAGE DONE BY CHAMOIS

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21084, 8 February 1934, Page 8

DAMAGE DONE BY CHAMOIS

♦ DESTRUCTION OF NATIVE FLORA OPINIONS OF CAPTAIN G. F. YEREX "The spread of chamois in the Southern Alps is a very serious problem," Captain G. F. Yerex said when interviewed yesterday. "They are very timid and live in inaccessible places." Captain Yerex has recently surveyed the Arthurs Pass region and he found a number of chamois there.

A complete survey of the Arthurs Pass region and the head of the Waimakariri river proved that chamois were fairly plentiful there, and the damage they had done proved that they could become a serious menace to native flora, said Captain Yerex. The chamois had spread rapidly, and specimens had been shot as far north as Harper's Pass. They were not very numerous in the region he had visited, but he had put in a small party to check their spread. The chamois could go anywhere, and the way they travelled over rocky country was almost unbelievable. They were plant eaters, and those shot had been living almost entirely on the Mount Cook lily (ranunculus Lyelli). These plants had been especially designed by nature to prevent erosio.. and were also of aesthetic value to New Zealand, so it was necessary to check the activities of the chamois. The spread of the chamois was more serious than the spread of the deer, Captain Yerex said, because they had emanated from one point, while the deer had been established in several places. He considered that the only way to check them effectively was to destroy the parent herd at Mount Cook. There was an impression abroad that thar were as bad as chamois, Captain Yerex added, but that was incorrect. They had not increased at the same rate and very few had moved to the north of Mount Cook. As to the destruction of deer, the work was well forward and the herds were under tontrol, he said in conclusion. GRAVEL SLIPS THE ESK WATERSHED Enormous damage resulted from the destruction of bush by *deer, a report presented to the Waimakaiiri River Trust yesterday stated. The removal of the undergrowth had led to extensive gravel slips, and this gravel was being washed down the Esk river into the Waimakariri.

"A further inspection of the Esk portion of the watershed was made last month by Professors R. Speight and A. Wall in company with Captain G. F. Yerex." the report said. "The campaign against the deer is still in progress, and the number destroyed to date is very satisfactory. The destruction of the bush on the Esk serves to show what enormous damages result from this, extensive shingle slips resulting 'herefrom. Professor Speight will give the trust a verbal report in this connexion."

The secretary (Mr C. W. Hervey) said that Captain Yerex had reported the destruction of 1700 deer Professor Speight said that he had very little to add to what he had given to the newspapers. The Esk was the most important contributor of the shingle coming down the Waimakariri, and everything possible should be done to conserve the bush.

There were deer tracks through the bush at the head of the Esk. It was true that some portions did not show much evidence of destruction, but in some areas, especially

the higher ones, the damage was very serious. "I can only say," he concluded, "that the trust made a wise decision in granting £2OO for the destruction of deer." Other members expressed the opinion that what had been donS was well worth while.