Motutapu Island rāhui extended until elusive stoat caught
A rāhui over Motutapu Island is set to continue indefinitely, while an elusive stoat continues to wreak havoc with the island’s wildlife.
The pest-free island was placed under rāhui (ban) for 30 days by iwi Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki on May 18 as the Department of Conservation worked to curb a stoat outbreak – the fourth since May 2020.
Just two stoats have been caught since then, DOC incursion response advisor Claire Warren said.
No stoats have been captured since the rāhui commenced, Warren said, however genetic analysis of stoat faeces confirmed the presence of one male stoat on the island.
Ferry services to Rangitoto Island are not affected by the rāhui, however campsite bookings for the Motutapu Island campsite are unavailable.
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