Tuataras To Be Flown To Britain, fire, Poland

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30196, 30 July 1963, Page 19

Tuataras To Be Flown To Britain, fire, Poland

(New Zealand Prest Association)

WELLIJK7TON, July 29. A consignment of tuataras —known as New Zealand’s “living fossils” because they are survivors of a prehistoric reptile—will leave Auckland bv air on Saturday for Poland, Britain, Ireland and Jersey. - The tuataras, between 18 inches and two feet long, arrived in Wellington this afternoon from Stephens Island, the only island on which tuataras are found in sufficient numbers to permit consignments abroad without seriously affecting their population. They were taken to the offices of the Internal Affairs Department in Bowen street, where staff of the Wildlife Branch cared for them until their long flights begin on Saturday. Strong wooden boxes have been specially designed for the flight. They have a special padding which will give the tuataras essential water. They are in hibernation and will not need food, but they must have water to absorb through their skin. The boxes will be put aboard scheduled passenger services. One consignment will go to Britain for the North of England Zoological Society at Chester, and another will go to Ireland, for She Royal Zoological Society at Phoenix Park, Dublin. The zoo run by the authornaturalist, Gerald Durrell, on the island of Jersey, will receive another consignment. More tuataras will be going to Poland, to a Professor Grodinski. at Cracow University, who wants them for research work. Another consignment will be going nearer home —to Hawke’s Bay for

the Aquarium and Water Gardens Society. ' At all their new homes, except Poland, the tuataras will be put on show for the public. The zoo at Dublin already has some of the species, but it will be the Jersey Zoo’s first experience with them. Mr D. M. Luke, of the Wildlife Branch, said the tuataras should survive quite well. Nocturnal reptiles, they lived on insects and grubs in their wild state, but would have to change their diet to meat, crickets and new-born mice in their new life. “The mice are dead before being fed to them, but they must be made. to look alive or the lizards will not eat them,” Mr Luke said.