Rakiura is no longer safe for species like kākāpō that evolved in isolation and in the absence of mammals for 80 million years. Today, introduced rats, feral cats, hedgehogs and possums cover the island. These predators eat bird eggs and chicks, as well as the fruits, leaves and seeds the birds rely on, leading to a steepening decline of native species populations. Introduced browsers such as deer and possums have degraded vast forests, and scientists are now warning of a potential collapse of the whole forest ecosystem.
But there is hope. Māori conservationists and scientists are working hard to rewild the habitat on the island. The Predator Free Rakiura project, alongside the community of 400 residents, aims to completely remove the harmful predators that threaten native wildlife here.
The last remaining kākāpō were evacuated from Rakiura decades ago for their survival. After over 40 years of breeding, around 250 kākāpō now live on nearby islands that are free from destructive introduced predators. As the kākāpō population recovers, finding suitable new habitats is the team’s most pressing challenge. They see a return to Rakiura as one of the best solutions to secure the species’ future.
Predator Free Rakiura is a community-driven conservation project to help restore our islands’ natural gifts, for now and for the future.
With generous donations, the project can scale up their impact to the whole island, beginning the process to rewild Rakiura as a future safehaven for kākāpō.
