SEARCH FOR KAKAPO

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28766, 11 December 1958, Page 24

SEARCH FOR KAKAPO

Expedition Finds Evidence Going into country in South Weitland that wai just “blank on the map,” a Canterbury Museum expedition in search of the kakapo found evidence that the bird existed in the area, the annual meeting of the Friends of the Canterbury Museum was told. Two members of the museum’s 1958 expedition to Fiordland. Messrs E. G. Turbott and T. R. Hitching*, gave a joint lecture, illustrated by colour slides, of the trip by a nine-man team in search pi the rare kakapo. Mr Turbott said the expedition was part of the scientific programme of the museum. “We went into country which really had not been explored before. “Our programme had clear scientific aims,” he said. One of the most romantic aims was that the kakapo was one of the most doubtful of New Zealand’s rare birds Many Killed “We were still a good way from understanding why the bird had become so rare,” he said. In the early days of New Zealand settlement many had been killed. The bird had also suffered by the introduction of the stoat, the weasel, and the rat. Little was known about the kakapo except that it was vegetarian. All the evidence known about the bird had been collected and discussed before the party left for Fiordland, Mr Turbott said. Giving a commentary on the coloured slides, Mr Hitchings said that on the 1955 expedition, during a search for the notornis, the skeleton of a kakapo was found. He said the 1958 expedition had gone primarily to search for the kakapo. The nine-man party had carried 700-8001 b of scientific gear. The party went ashore at Lyall Bay on the north side of Thompson Sound, and from there had “climbed to the tops.” A camp had been established at 2500 ft, and from there the party had carried out a scientific programme, including the search for the kakapo and other birds.' He said the party had also made botanic collections, done surveying, and made collections of invertebrates. Although no kakapp were seen, there was definite evidence of. the bird having recently been in the area. Wet weather had prevented more thorough investigation, but the party had glimpsed valleys where the bird was likely to live, he said.