Famed kakapo released on Codfish Island

Press, 15 July 1987, Page 14

Famed kakapo released on Codfish Island

PA Invercargill Alice, best known of Stewart Island’s small and embattled kakapo population, does not live there any more. Alice, famed as the first female for more than 100 years to be found nesting young, was

released with a male kakapo, Hefler, on neighbouring Codfish Island. The birds had no future on Stewart Island because of predatory feral cats, said a conservation officer, Mr Andy Roberts. “We have a big cat control operation going, but all we are doing is just holding our own.” But Codfish Island, off Stewart Island’s northwest coast, is free from cats and since 1979 wekas and opossums have been removed to prepare the island as a wildlife reserve. No wekas have been found there for the last three years, and the six opossums removed earlier this year were all barren females. The future of the kakapo rests on the success of this, and another sanctuary on Little Barrier Island, where the figurehead among the 24' introduced kakapo is Alice’s offspring, Snark. Stewart Island is known to have 14 kakapos, all of which

carry radio transmitters. Mr Roberts estimates the island’s total population may be 30 to 40. There are a further four or five in Fiordland, all males, but no evidence has been found to back up hopes that some may exist in north-west Nelson.

Kakapos, which tend to be loners, breed every four years or so, and as signs are good for a breeding season on Stewart Island, most of its population is to stay put for the moment.

Mr Roberts said he would like to see at least 25 birds introduced to Codfish Island during the next four years.

Alice and Hefler were released about a kilometre apart, and will be left alone for five years, although Codfish Island will be staffed permanently, partly for further sanctuary development work and partly for security. Other species may be introduced later, including the . rediscovered Stewart Island kokako.