Nature Sanctuaries

May

I have been very lucky to have visited two nature sanctuaries this month.  
This one is very close to the centre of Wellington.  

This is part of the predator-proof fence which goes right around the sanctuary.  This fence means that our endangered birds and reptiles can be kept safe and breed so that one day they may not be endangered anymore.

This fence is designed to keep predators out.  It is high enough so that possums and cats can't jump over it and the mesh is fine enough so that they can't climb.  Stoats, weasels, ferrets and mice are kept out too.  The fence has a cap on the top to make extra sure.
Volunteers spend thousands of hours walking the fence line to make sure there are no holes or that trees haven't fallen across.

This is takahe poo!  For a long time we thought that takahe were extinct.  There are two at Zealandia.

 We were able to take a night tour of this sanctuary.  We had to be very quiet and walk around with torches that gave a red light so we didn't scare the wildlife.  We could hear lots of bird calls.

We saw kiwis, takahe, a falcon, kaka, shags, tuatara, giant wetas, enormous eels,  frogs and huge spiders.  I couldn't take any photos because the flash would have frightened them and I couldn't work out how to turn it off in the dark.  (I should have been more prepared!).  I definitely want to go back.


Later in May I got to go to a nature sanctuary in Taranaki.  Rotokare is near Eltham.  It too has a predator proof fence.  

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This display shows how the fence is designed to keep pests out.

 What a beautiful place!