WILD LIFE

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 25, 30 January 1930, Page 11

WILD LIFE

ITS PROTECTION HEBE

IMPORTED CAME A MENACE

"All over tho world action is being taken to preserve the wild life indigenous to each country," stated Dr. Fan- (president of the Now Zealand Institute) in the course of his presidential address at the annual meeting of the institute to-day. "Examples are Canada, tho Argentine, the United States, Central Africa, Central Europe, Scandinavia, and Great Britain. National parks and other reserves are set apart and the wild life is carefully protected. In New Zealand there aro sanctuaries for birds such as those at Kapiti, Resolution Island, and Little Barrie-r Island. There are- national parks such aa those of Egmont and Tongariro, Waimakariri, Alount Peelj and the Sounds; there are hundreds of scenic reserves, and there are various reserves for different purposes—forest, education, military, water-supply, etc.

"These areas are, except those on islands—and many of such are not immune—threatened by the incursion of aggressive introduced forms of life. Wh&re the original plant covering is destroyed, or where there is bare ground, introduced plants gain an entrance and alter the natural vegetation features it is desired to preserve; but the pressing danger is from introduced animals, deer, goats, including, chamoia, pigs, hares, rabbits, stoats, weasels, cats, and

rats. It has been proved that vigorous action can destroy a menace.

GOATS ON KAPITI.

"The goats at Kapiti Island, which threatened the young forest growth on Kapiti, have now; been exterminated; as have also a certain number of cats which preyed on the birds. This policy requires to bo extended to all other public reserves. A start might be made with the national parks, the boards of ■which should have the duty of making every effort to exterminate those animals which are in any way becoming a menace to the indigenous vegetation or the fauna of the Dominion. A conference of all those interested has been called for March, and it is to be hoped that the policy of'this New Zealand Institute, with regard to the preservation of the Tongariro National Park (see vol. 58, Trans. N.Z. Inst., page 5, 1927), will be vigorously upheld by the delegates representing the institute, and extended to other national reserves."