Protecting endangered endemic Aotearoa species

  1. Select one endemic animal.
  2. Identify the threats the animal faces.
  3. Enter your findings and upload.
Kākāpo

Adult kākāpō face many dangers from predators. Cats and stoats hunt adult kākāpō, while rats often kill their eggs and chicks. Female kākāpō are the only ones to look after the eggs and chicks. Since they need to leave the nest for food, eggs and chicks are often left unprotected, making them easy targets. Baby kākāpō grow slowly, and their nests become smelly, which attracts predators.

Kākāpō also have low fertility because they lack genetic diversity. Conservation efforts now include carefully choosing which kākāpō mate and sometimes using artificial insemination to prevent further genetic loss. Today, kākāpō live in the Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari and three islands: Whenua Hou, Anchor Island, and Hauturu. Since 2016 the population doubled to reach a high of 252 birds in 2022.

Kākāpō try to stay safe by freezing and blending into their surroundings. This worked against bird predators that hunted by sight, but it doesn’t work against mammals like cats, stoats, and rats that hunt using smell.

Tuatara

Tuatara didn’t have any threats prior to people arrived in Aotearoa. Tuatara are land dwelling so they are extremely vulnerable to mammalian predators, specifically rats. There are 3 main species of rats residing in Aotearoa – kiore, Norway rats and ship rats.

Habitat destruction and poaching tuatara used to be found Aotearoa wide, but now only inhabit islands. Due to this they are vulnerable to changes in the island’s habitat. Some of these changes may include fire damage and vegetation damage due to visitors. Hundreds of tuatara were shipped overseas to museums and private collections which led to them becoming one of the first of Aotearoa’s endemic animals to be protected in 1895.

Tuatara populations face a big challenge due to low genetic variety. Some live on tiny islands where there aren’t enough to keep a healthy mix, and others barely survived before rats were removed. While some are recovering, their limited variety makes them more vulnerable to problems like disease or climate change. Since island populations are isolated, they can’t mix genes with others to improve their chances.

Wētā

As wētā evolved alongside Aotearoa’s native birds, there were very little dominant threats to the many wētā species. With the introduction of people to Aotearoa the threats to the wētā populations have increased. These include the introduction of mammalian predators such as rats, cats, possums, mustelids and hedgehogs.

Wētā inhabit grasslands, rotten trees, shrublands, and forests. However, human population growth and urbanization have led to the destruction of much of their natural habitat. While wētā prefer to live in groups, the loss of habitat has reduced the availability of space and food, limiting their ability to repopulate.

Wētā are herbivores. They prefer to eat the soft young shoots on plants. This vegetation is also the preferred food source for the like of goats and deer. These introduced species are voracious eaters while also being a large population. This leads to wētā’s habitats being destroyed or changed beyond repair.

Maui Dolphin

Because Māui dolphin are found close inshore, their habitat overlaps with many coastal activities that people take part in. Activities such as boating and fishing can pose a threat to their survival. The effects of littering and pollution are also an issue. A significant number of Māui dolphins have died through accidental entanglement in nets. Set net fishing is likely the largest source of human caused Māui dolphin mortality.

Pollution – Although little studies have been undertaken on the following pollutions and the effect on Māui dolphins, they still pose a risk to the population. Organochlorines from pesticides and building materials reach Māui dolphin habitats through runoff.
Toxic metals like mercury, lead, and cadmium accumulate in the environment. Oil spills introduce compounds linked to cancer in marine mammals. Plastic debris poses risks of entanglement and ingestion, potentially harming dolphins.

Pesticides – Seabed mining, drilling, and seismic testing may impact Māui dolphins by disturbing their habitat and food sources. Discharge plumes and sediment suspension can reduce fish populations, potentially affecting dolphin feeding and movement patterns. Loud noises from these activities may interfere with dolphin communication, navigation, and foraging, and could cause displacement or even hearing damage. However, the lack of sufficient data makes it difficult to determine the full extent of these threats.

Goldstripe Gecko

With the introduction of people to Aotearoa the threats to the Taranaki Goldstriped Gecko populations have increased. These include the introduction of mammalian predators such as rats, cats, possums, mustelids and hedgehogs.

Habitat destruction
Taranaki Goldstriped Gecko live in a range of habitats including forest, wetland, scrub, coastal vegetation and farmland. Human population growth and urbanization have led to the destruction of much of their natural habitat.

Chemical spray and pesticides
Pesticides are toxic substances used to kill weeds (herbicides), fungus (fungicides), rodents (rodenticides), and insects (insecticides). Herbicides such as Roundup are known to kill native herpetofauna (amphibians and reptiles.) The misuse or overuse of pesticides can lead to significant environmental challenges, such as: habitat contamination. Chemicals leach into soil and waterways, affecting plants, animals, and ecosystems.