Takahē Return to the Rees

Southern Lakes Sanctuary and DOC Takahē Recovery, in partnership with a multitude of other fantastic groups have officially returned takahē to the Rees Valley!

We have drastically ramped up predator control over the last few years here in preparation for this re-introduction and could not have done it without the support of the Scott family, the leaseholders of this special place.

Since 2022, a total of 596 traps have removed 1947 predators, including feral cats, stoats and rats, and the traps have been checked 5722 times. Cameras have also been deployed in the valley twice a year to monitor presence of feral cats and stoats and tracking tunnel sets have been conducted up to four times yearly too.

A huge thank you to DOC Takahē Recovery, RealNZ, Impact100, Lotteries, Stout Trust, Patagonia, QLDC, CLT, Routeburn Dart Wildlife Trust, AJ Hackett Bungy New Zealand and Heli Glenorchy – what a team effort!

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