Report against wapiti shift to Nelson praised

Press, 23 January 1984, Page 24

Report against wapiti shift to Nelson praised

Wellington reporter The Forest Service report describing the west Nelson area as unsuitable for the relocation of the Fiordland Wapiti herd has been welcomed by the Native Forests Action Council. The council said that conservationists had opposed the idea of bringing the wapiti herd to NelSon, as had the deerstalkers.

Introducing wapiti would be “substantially incompatible” with the protection of the west Nelson beech forests and grasslands. The report had found these rich in species, containing two to three times the number of plant species found in areas of a similar size elsewhere.

The report had also said the area’s vegetation could support only half the num-

ber of wapiti needed for a viable herd. Because of the presence of red deer, it would be impossible to maintain a pure wapiti herd in any case.

Old earthquake slips had made the area sensitive to a build-up in animal numbers. Regrowth of vegetation on the slips was occurring, but the report said this would be highly vulnerable to depletion if aerial-hunting pressure declined.

The condition of the forest was expected to deteriorate without a substantial lowering of animal numbers.

The council called on the Minister of Forests, Mr Elworthy, to heed the report’s conclusions.