RARE FAUNA AND FLORA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27385, 10 May 1950, Page 4

RARE FAUNA AND FLORA

Location Should Not Be Publicised APPEAL TO DISCOVERERS “ If it is not practical for the Government, through the Internal Affairs Department, to take action to prevent scientists from disclosing to the public the location of rare species of any fauna or flora, cannot an appeal be made to discoverers to refrain from giving away such information except after reference to the department?” asks Mr H. A. Gilbert in an article published in the New* Zealand Motor World. ' , „ The expeditions, film unit and all which went into the Takahe country and studied, photographed and otherwise disturbed the struggling remnant of these extremely rare, beautiful, and trusting creatures caused many people concern, says the article. It would seem that the Internal Affairs Department had representations made to it on the subject as assurances were later given by the Minister. Dr G. B. Orbell, of Invercargill, who rediscovered the notornis, has now come upon what he believes to be a pair of laughing owls, native birds of which there has been no record since 1907. This time he refuses to disclose where the birds have been seen. His attitude is to be fully commended. In a letter to the Internal Affairs Department, Dr Orbell makes no bones about his refusal to disclose the locality. Enough damage, he says, has been done to the bird life of that area without any further expeditions to look for the owls. He says he would rather let the owls remain in peace where they were seen than have them disturbed in the cause of science or in verification of his claim of having seen them. On the same day that Dr Orbell made his announcement about the owls, the Director of the Dominion Museum, Dr R. A. Falla, was reported in the press as having disclosed that four blue herons, graceful and solitary New Zealand native birds, were then fishing in Wellington harbour bays north of Eastbourne. From his own observations, he was able to state the location of the rocky islet in the harbour where two of the herons were bred ‘‘ this summer.” He knew of only two pairs of herons nesting in the harbour—the other pair reared its young on a named island in the harbour. To name and describe nesting places of birds, rare or common, is to invite the attentions of all human types. As Dr Falla says, apart from man they 'herons) had few natural; enemies: -Then why tell man where the birds are or where they nest? Why draw attention, as was done some months ago, to the habitat of'the white heron? Mr Gilbert asks. Though the exact location was not given the provincial or land district was indicated Since ill-advised publicity was given to the only mainland, nest- - ing place in the world'of the giant albatross we know how the birds have been disturbed. If scientific explorers, investigators and the like want it they can get themselves publicity and fame without making it possible for collectors, vandals, and the plain inquisitive type to know where something rare and beautiful can be found, disturbed, frightened, photographed, killed.