2009 Restoration Plan
The Ark in the Park project invites you to read the new Ark in the Park Restoration Plan. You can download a copy by clicking [here].
(The Restoration Plan file size is 5MB; if you prefer a smaller version, with less clear graphics, click [here])
This 57 page document provides the ecological background, current and future plans for the project. Our next task is to work on an Ark in the Park Management Plan that will cover the operational side of the project including: volunteer and project management, communication, funding etc.
The second current document is our Annual Report 2006-2008. This describes, in detail, the Ark activities over the period, and was presented to the Auckland Regional Council Parks and Heritage Committee in August 2008. A number of documents were attached in the Appendix to the Annual Report, and these can be viewed as below:
- Annual Report: click here to download (748 KB pdf file)
- Appendix documents from Annual Report: click here to view index
These new documents are designed to add to/update our original Strategic Plan and Operational Plans, which were completed back in 2002.
The project would really appreciate any feedback or comments you would like to make.
Ark Stats
Start date: 2003
Current area: 1200 hectares
Bait stations: 2160 bait stations, 50m apart, adding up to over 100km of bait lines (as at February 2009).
Mustelid traps: 219 traps. Catch July 2007- June 2008: 84 stoats, 12 weasels, 5 ferrets, 15 hedgehogs, 162 rats.
Volunteer hours: Volunteers make the project the success it is. We estimate the volunteer time that goes into the project to be around 8000 hrs/year
Rat density before predator control started: approximately 70% presence in monitoring tunnels
Rat density at present time: between 1-5%
Species re-introduced: whitehead (55 in 2004, 51 in 2008), North Island robin (53 in 2005, 30 in 2009), hihi (59 in 2007, 60 in May 2008), kokako (6 in September 2009, 2 in June 2010).
Translocations:
There are a number of reports available regarding the releases of the species listed above, and also of the subsequent breeding seasons. These reports include the following:
Whitehead translocation 2004: click here to download (PDF file)
Robin translocation 2005: click here to download (PDF file)
Robin breeding season 2006-2007: click here to view in your browser
Whitehead translocation 2008: click here to download (PDF file)
Hihi breeding season 2008-2009: click here to download (PDF file)
What's Next?
The next planned re-introduction is of additional kokako, scheduled for winter 2010.
Once the current establishment of a new research block south of the reservoir is completed, new bait lines will be introduced, to extend the southern boundary of the Ark to join with this block. This will represent a major step towards the goal of expanding the area of the Ark to around 2000 hectares
Next: Getting to the Ark