RealNZ smashed its fundraising target in Queenstown last Saturday, ensuring a critically-endangered bird will find a new home in Fiordland.
Last week, Mountain Scene reported the tourism company needed to raise $150,000 to support establishing a new population of kākāriki karaka, the critically-endangered orange-fronted parakeet, which will be translocated from Christchurch to Pukenui (Anchor Island) next year.
At its annual Conservation Ball, held at Walter Peak last Saturday, the company instead raised $175,000, which will enable the project to be
completed.
There are just 350 of the birds remaining, making it one of New Zealand’s rarest species — meaning it’s vital the number of predator-free sites is expanded to minimise the risk of extinction.
The company earlier paid for the replacement of stoat traps on Pukenui, and is now funding the construction and installation of bespoke aviaries, before the birds are translocated in two stages from Christchurch’s Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust Orana Wildlife Park to
Fiordland, next year.
