From the New Zealand Herald:
Parakeets take off on Fiordland IslandSaturday December 23, 2006
A new generation of rare parakeets has been successfully established on a Fiordland island free of predators.
Department of Conservation rangers are celebrating after finding orange-fronted parakeets, or kakariki, classified as “nationally critical”, are breeding successfully in the wild on Chalky Island.
See also here.
Takahe bird of New Zealand: here. Update February 2010: here.
Stoats cleared from Resolution Island: here.
Near Poor Knights islands: rare seahorse and sea hare.
Auckland’s Motuihe Island to Become a Wildlife Sanctuary
AUCKLAND, New Zealand, February 22, 2005 (ENS) – An island just offshore of Auckland has been cleared of cats, rats and rabbits and is to be replanted and restored over the next 10 years as a sanctuary for native wildlife, New Zealand Conservation Minister Chris Carter announced today.
Motuihe’s restoration is to be a community venture headed by the Motuihe Trust, which was established for this purpose in 2000. The trust will work in partnership with the Department of Conservation under a restoration plan signed by the parties on Motuihe today.
Motuihe Island is one of the 65 Hauraki Gulf Islands on the doorstep of downtown Auckland, lying just 15 kilometers (nine miles) offshore of New Zealand’s largest city.
“Ringed by sheltered sandy beaches and safe anchorages, it is ripe for restoration not just as a sanctuary for kiwi and other species but as a destination where New Zealanders can relax and experience their unique heritage,” said Carter.
Rare fish sighting thrills world’s experts
Lindy Laird
Marine scientists around the world are excited about the first sighting of a rare deepwater fish at the Poor Knights.
The 10cm translucent whisp captured by photographer Crispin Middleton has been identified as a juvenile spiderfish.
Ngunguru-based Marine specialist Wade Doak, who forwarded the photos to fish expert Andrew Stewart for identification, said these were the first photos taken of a spiderfish, alive and swimming at the Poor Knights.
“It has excellent camouflage,” Mr Doak said. “It looks like jellyfish or salp and has total translucency which would mean it is seldom preyed upon.”
Mr Stewart said there were five recorded species in the Bathypterois genus in deep waters around New Zealand.
The iconic deep-sea animals were not common above 1500m depth.
Juveniles are known to live near the surface, descending to the dark, unlit depths when they mature. The genus is sometimes known in other parts of the world as tripod fish or feelerfish.
Spiderfish species grow up to 45cm and most have wing-like, ultra-sensitive fins to prop themselves on the seabed. They use their fins to herd crustaceans into their mouths and needle-sharp teeth. They are thought to be almost sightless because of the blind, dark depths they inhabit.
Mr Doak has posted information and Mr Middleton’s photos on his website http://www.wadedoak.com
http://www.northernadvocate.co.nz/local/news/rare-fish-sighting-thrills-worlds-experts/3933562/
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