"I think it's Takahe, although aren't there more than 60 birds now?"
There were only 4 official sightings of takahe between 1800 and 1900, so by 1930 the takahe was presumed extinct.
http://www.kcc.org.nz/birds/takahe/_geoffreyorbell.JPGBut there was a man, Dr Geoffrey Orbell, who believed there were still takahe in the valleys of the Murchison Mountains. He spent his weekends and holidays tramping through the valleys with his friends in search of the takahe. It took many trips and LOTS of walking, but he found them!
Dr Geoffrey Orbell rediscovered the takahe on the 20th of November 1948. It turned out there were about 250 takahe living in the valleys of the Murchison Mountains and the neighbouring ranges. The valley where Dr Orbell rediscovered the takahe was named ‘Takahe Valley’ and the Lake nearby was named 'Lake Orbell'
In 1847 the takahe was given the scientific name ‘
Notornis mantelli' after the scientist Walter Mantell, who discovered takahe bones in the North Island. However the takahe is now recognised in the same grouping as the pukeko, so its scientific name changed to
'Porphyrio mantelli hochstetteri'
Takahe Timeline
Before people arrived in NZTakahe lived throughout New Zealand
Peole arrivedTakahe numbers dropped due to introduced predators, habitat loss and being eaten.
The last population survived, unknown, in the Murchison Mountains.
1800-19004 official recorded sightings of takahe
By 1930 Takahe presumed extinct
1940s & 1950s Red deer became established in the Murchison Mountains
1948 Takahe rediscovered by Dr Geoffrey Orbell. Around 250 Takahe found living in the Murchison Mountains.
Early 1970s Wildlife Service staff noticed a decline in Takahe numbers
1976 Intensive helicopter hunting of deer began in the Murchison Mountains (Ground shooters had been culling deer since 1948.)
1981 Around 120 Takahe remain
1983 Wildlife Service started moving fertile eggs to nests where Takahe had infertile eggs (they took the infertile eggs away)
1985 Opening of chick-rearing unit at Burwood Bush near Mossburn, South Island.
1985 First takahe relocated to Maud Island
1990s DOC started translocating takahe to other offshore islands - Mana, Kapiti and Tiritiri Matangi
1991 First two takahe translocated to Tiritiri Matangi Island
1995-1997 Flight Centre New Zealand sponsored the Takahe Recovery Programme. They now continue to support the programme through an annual donation.
1987-1992 Annual releases of captive reared takahe into the Stuart Mountains; total of 58 over this period
1991-1999 Annual releases from Burwood Bush into the Murchison Mountains; total of 96 over this period
1999/2000 Summer counting season (The count is carried out by the Department of Conservation)
Murchison Mountains = 133
Elsewhere in Fiordland = 4 (These two figures are minimum counts, there may be a few more that didn’t get counted.)
Burwood Bush Captive Rearing Unit = 20 takahe over 1 year old
Te Anau and Mt Bruce Wildlife Centres = 5
Four offshore islands (Maud, Mana, Kapiti, Tiritiri Matangi) = 59 adults
Total Adult Takahe 1999/2000 season = 221
2004/2005
Numbers provided by the Department of Conservation
Murchison Mountains = 147 and elsewhere in Fiordland = 4 (These two figures are minimum counts, there may be a few more that didn’t get counted.)
Burwood Bush Captive Rearing Unit = 27
Te Anau and Mt Bruce Wildlife Centres = 4
Four offshore islands (Maud, Mana, Kapiti, Tiritiri Matangi) = 76 adults
Total Adult Takahe 2004/2005 season = 259
Credit to :-Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand Inc 1999
Site contents updated April 2005
Regards
Malky