TAKAHE IN DANGER OF EXTINCTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27413, 12 June 1950, Page 6

TAKAHE IN DANGER OF EXTINCTION

Claim By Three Qualified Investigators

The takahe colony, discovered by Dr G. B. Orbell beyond Lake Te Anau, is in danger of extinction, according to the views expressed to the Canterbury branch of the Royal Society by three persons who have been actively engaged in investigation work in Takahe Valley—Mr Roger Duff, director of the Canterbury Museum, and Messrs B. Wisely and K. Miers, formerly of the Department of Internal Affairs. These fears have been expressed previously by the Daily Times. The colony —the only known one in the world—is estimated by Messrs Duff, Wisely and Miers to contain only 20 birds now.

Mr Wisely said that when he entered" the valley to make observations with the first investigation party in January, 1949, birds were consistently heard in eight places, and they appeared to be in pairs. His estimate of the population at that time was 23 birds, but during the winter Mr Miers could account for only 16. The severity of the winters in the areas was not thought to have as much bearing on the population as the presence of stoats and the high percentage of infertile eggs. Infertility might be due to the small population. . Only two eggs were laid annually. Mr Miers said that he thought that an adult takahe could give a good account of itself in a fight with a stoat, but a chick would have little chance of survival. The takahe had a strong territorial sense, and was quick to defend its territory against any intruder of its kind.

The discovery in the valley of signs of Maori occupation and bones of the bush moa (Megalapteryx) threw a new light on the possible existence of this bird, Mr Duff said. Oiie of the bones, he said, bore marks which suggested that it had been killed and eaten after the Maoris had obtained iron tools. About a third of the moa’s skeleton was found, together with some feathers, flax nooses, and a flax sandal. All of these were found in the surface dust in a fresh condition. If the six clean, sharp cuts were made by an iron tool the bird was probably killed after 1800.