Maud Island stoat 'elusive’

Press, 25 November 1982, Page 27

Maud Island stoat 'elusive’

PA Wellington ? A stoat which caused kakapo to be evacuated from the Maud Island sanctuary has proved elusive, Parliament has been told. The Minister for the Environment, Dr Shearer, said that the stoat had not been caught or even seen again since it was sighted in May, although “every effort had been made to catch it.”

However, the sighting and a possible, infestation of the' Marlborough Sounds island by stoats might recur at any time so that its potential as a refuge for most en-, dangered birds was limited, Dr Shearer said.

Four kakapo were taken from the island and transferred to Little Barrier Island in the Hauraki Gulf after the stoat was seen.

Dr Shearer also said that another 18 kakapo had been transferred to. Little Barrier

direct, from Stewart Island.

The four kakapo on Maud Island had been held there after originating from Stewart Island and Fiordland.

Dr Shearer, speaking as Acting Minister of Internal Affairs, said the 22 birds moved to Little Barrier had “settled in well” and none had been lost.

Most of them had gained weight, indicating that breeding might occur in the next few months.

The presence of a stoat or stoats on Maud Island was not expected to seriously affect the native .frog population, he said.

_ Dr Shearer was answering Suestions by Mr D. A. Angus Vat., Wallace), on the future role of Maud. Island and progress of the transferred kakapo. The Minister said that nine of the 22 birds were females.