DOC halts pukeko cull after takahe deaths

DOC halts pukeko cull after takahe deaths

DOC has put an immediate halt to pukeko culling operations near threatened takahe populations after the discovery of four dead takahe on Motutapu Island in the Hauraki Gulf.

An examination shows the birds, which were discovered by DOC staff on the island sanctuary earlier this week, were killed by shotgun pellets.

DOC’s Northern Conservation Services Director Andrew Baucke says the discovery follows a pukeko control operation last week involving experienced members of the local deerstalkers association.

Pukeko is a common and aggressive species that can pose a serious threat to rarer native species and are occasionally culled to protect the chicks and eggs of high risk populations.

Andrew Baucke says DOC is currently talking to the deerstalkers involved in the culling operation and the association is co-operating fully with the inquiries.

He says pukeko have very similar colouring to the flightless takahe and takahe may have been mistaken for pukeko.

Andrew Baucke says DOC has engaged local deerstalkers on two previous successful pukeko culling operations on the island in 2012 and 2013.

He says the hunters had been carefully briefed on how to differentiate between the flightless takahe and pukeko, including instructions to only shoot birds on the wing.

Andrew Baucke says guidelines introduced after an incident on Mana Island seven years ago when another takahe was mistakenly shot during a pukeko cull were also used during last week’s cull.

He says DOC has put a halt to any future operations to cull pukeko near takahe populations while it conducts its investigation and a review of procedures for such operations.

Andrew Baucke says the deaths are deeply disappointing for DOC and the many groups, like the deerstalkers themselves, that actively work to support conservation initiatives.

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