April 10, 2017
Robins return to Taranaki
North Island robin are back on Mt Taranaki 110 years after their song was last heard on the maunga.
A group of 36 toutouwai from Pureora Forest Park were released this morning.
It's the first of of a number of releases planned by environmental project Taranaki Mounga.
Chair Jamie Tuuta says returning the toutouwai and the related predator control is the first step towards delivering major ecological gains for the park, bringing the mountain He Kawa Ora – Back to life.
Taranaki and Te Atiawa iwi leaders collaborated with Pureora mana whenua iwi Ngati Rereahu to bring the birds to Taranaki.
Taranaki schools and businesses have been farming mealworms to feed the birds to encourage them to stay in the protected zone.
Predator numbers were reduced at the release site through an aerial 1080 drop, and 2000 self-setting rat traps are being set over a 1000 hectare area.
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