ZIP Fact Sheet: Jackson/ Arawhata trial

Page 1

[GRAB YOUR READER’S ATTENTION WITH A GREAT QUOTE FROM THE DOCUMENT OR USE THIS SPACE TO EMPHASIZE A KEY POINT. TO PLACE THIS TEXT BOX ANYWHERE ON THE PAGE, JUST DRAG IT.]

Zero Invasive Predators Trial in South Westland zip.org.nz 20172017 Rats, possums and stoats are generally accepted as the main cause of ecological decline in New Zealand, responsible for the loss of an estimated 25 million native birds and countless other treasured species every year. New Zealand is a world leader in removing these invasive predators from islands and predator fenced sanctuaries. However, on the mainland, the tools are not yet available to enable complete removal across large landscapes. Zero Invasive Predators Ltd (ZIP) was established by the Department of Conservation (DOC) and NEXT Foundation in February 2015 to develop the technological capability to completely remove rats, possums and stoats from large mainland areas, and then defend those areas from reinvasion. DOC is assisting ZIP to investigate an innovative approach to completely remove possums, and potentially rats, from mainland sites. A trial on Mt Taranaki in 2016 produced encouraging results and ZIP plans to further test this approach at Jackson/Arawhata in South Westland. The trial objectives are as follows:

Brushtail Possum. Photo: DOC

1. To achieve ‘functional extinction’ (one or fewer individuals per 400 ha) of possums at a chosen site 2. To test whether the same approach can achieve functional extinction of rats (ship and/or Norway if present) The predator removal operation will not only help protect native species in this area and allow them to thrive but if the trial is successful in completely eliminating rats and possums it will bring us one step closer to the goal of a predator-free New Zealand. It will also reduce, and ultimately eliminate, the need for the repeated wide scale application of toxins at defendable mainland sites.

What is Proposed Phase One The proposed approach will be a two-phase operation. Phase One involves two aerial applications of non-toxic cereal ‘pre-feed’ bait followed by a single application of 1080 cereal bait, to attempt to reduce predator numbers to functional extinction. Intensive monitoring in the core of the block will detect whether any possums and rats survived the toxic application. Monitoring will also enable re-invasion rates to be assessed, and provide confidence around appropriate buffers and the effectiveness of treatment. Phase Two If no surviving possums or rats are detected, then the operation will be complete. If there are survivors, then the second phase will be triggered, which will consist of two further pre-feed applications and be followed by a second 1080 application. Again, the intensive monitoring will be carried out to verify functional extinction. The two phases use different ‘flavoured’ lures to reduce the chance target species are put off by a particular flavor. Both 1080 operations use the same strength toxin, although the cereal pellet type will change.

Rat. Photo: DOC


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
ZIP Fact Sheet: Jackson/ Arawhata trial by Zero Invasive Predators - Issuu