Story: Tuatara

Loading rat bait

Loading rat bait

The Department of Conservation carried out their second-largest rat eradication programme on Little Barrier Island (Hauturu), in winter 2004. In two aerial drops six weeks apart, three helicopters spread 55 tonnes of rat bait over the 3,083-hectare island in an attempt to wipe out kiore (Pacific rats). Monitoring two years later confirmed that it was successful. The aim is to restore the island’s forest ecosystem, where burrowing seabirds, tuatara, lizards and insects can live free of predation from introduced mammals.

Using this item

Department of Conservation
Photograph by Fiona Oliphant

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page:

Charles Daugherty and Susan Keall, 'Tuatara - Decline and recovery', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/14990/loading-rat-bait (accessed 30 March 2024)

Story by Charles Daugherty and Susan Keall, published 24 Sep 2007