To Rescue Birds From Rats

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30511, 5 August 1964, Page 16

To Rescue Birds From Rats

(New Zealand Press Association)

DUNEDIN, August 4.

A wild-life rescue operation will begin on Great South Cape Island, off the left-hand corner of Stewart Island soon.

A party of Internal Affairs Department Wild-life Division rangers will set about catching the rare South Island Saddleback and transfer the birds to another island not infested with rats.

A rat infestation on Great South Cape Island, also known as Long Island, has been endangering the saddleback population there.

But before the saddle-backs can be transferred a suitable island must be found for them. The Wildlife Division has three islands nearby in

mind and these will be inspected to ensure that no rats exist there. This became known in Dunedin today when the two Royal New Zealand Navy fishery protection launches, the Maka and Manga, arrived last night. Lieutenant L. R. Merton, who is in charge of the Navy side of the expedition, said the Navy had been called in at the request of the Wildlife Division. The two launches would work out of Bluff. Three of the five-man Wildlife Division party would live on the island. The other two would receive and transport the Saddlebacks in the launches to the island found suitable. About August 18. the other two fishery protection launches, the Mororo and Hoku, would take over, Lieutenant Merton said.

He expected these launches would work for a further two weeks.