The Department of Conservation has made no decision on the detail of an operational control plan to reduce the tahr population over the next eight months, despite recent hunter commentary.

The Department of Conservation is developing the details of the plan and how, when and where the control work should occur. The plan will be discussed with the Tahr Liaison Group before DOC adopts it.

The Department of Conservation and Conservation Minister met with the Himalayan Tahr Liaison Group on Monday to discuss the high numbers of tahr and the most effective ways of stepping up control to protect the mountainlands and alpine habitats of the central Southern Alps.

Lead Operations Director for tahr control, Andy Roberts says the department has yet to finalise its operational plan and is considering feedback from the meeting.

“Recent media reports stating a plan has been confirmed are not correct. The recent Tahr Liaison Group meeting made good progress but DOC has not finalised any plan,” says Andy Roberts.

“The Minister of Conservation asked the Department to reduce tahr numbers but it is DOC’s role to create the control plan and action it.

DOC monitoring has estimated the Himalayan tahr population on public conservation land alone (not including Crown pastoral leases and private land) as totalling more than 35,000 animals.

The Department will undertake further monitoring of the Himalayan tahr population and vegetation condition over the summer; and this information and the effectiveness of the initial control operation will be reviewed with the Tahr Liaison Group in early 2019.

“In finalising its plan, DOC is considering the views of all members of the Tahr Liaison Group, not just hunters, but Ngāi Tahu, the Canterbury Aoraki Conservation Board and Forest and Bird too,” says Andy Roberts.

The longstanding Himalayan Thar Control Plan sets an upper limit of 10,000 animals. DOC is working with members of the Tahr Liaison Group to, over time, reduce the population to within this limit.

–Ends–

Note to Media:
The Tahr Liaison Group includes representatives from the Te Runanga o Ngāi Tahu; and the stakeholders below:
• Canterbury Aoraki Conservation Board – on behalf of the Canterbury, West Coast and Otago Conservation Boards;
• New Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association,
• Safari Club International (NZ chapter),
• New Zealand Professional Hunting Guides Association
• Wild Animal Recovery Operators,
• Royal Forest & Bird Protection Society,
• Federated Mountain Clubs,
• Federated Farmers - High Country Committee;
• Aerial Assisted Trophy Hunters;
• Tahr Farmers Association;
• Game Animal Council,
• New Zealand Tahr Foundation
• New Zealand Association of Game Estates
The New Zealand Conservation Authority was also represented at the recent meeting

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