Predator Free Te Kinga

The Project

The Predator Free Te Kinga Project aims to completely remove possums from 3,700 ha of Mt Te Kinga, as part of a coordinated predator control programme across the wider Lake Brunner basin. Benefits will include helping to restore biodiversity of native flora and fauna, and boosting regional development and tourism.

The mountain is surrounded on one side by Lake Brunner, and on the other sides by farmland which will act as a buffer between the mountain and surrounding sources of reinvasion. The farmland within the project boundary is separated into three separate Protection Zones with trapping activities undertaken by project staff, Papa Taiao students, and landowners throughout the zones. Installation of a double ‘ring of steel’ traps on at the base of the mountain and on the outside of the farmland will help prevent reinvasion from surrounding areas. Coordination with DOC (Department of Conservation) and OSPRI (Operational Solutions for Primary Industry) will help suppress possum numbers in the surrounding ranges and reduce pressure on the ring of steel.

The long term aim of this project is to expand into a ‘mountains to sea’ project stretching between the Ahaura/Grey Rivers in the north to the Taramakau River in the south and eventually to link up with other projects to achieve the aim of Predator Free New Zealand by 2050.

Community Support

Local farmers and other landowners in the Protection Zones are an integral part of the project, performing vital trapping and monitoring work alongside staff. Members also contribute their knowledge, enthusiasm, and skills. A local farmer has even donated the use of a farm cottage as a forward base for project work and events.

Using Technology

Trail cameras are used to detect and monitor for species present around the project. Camera data is analysed to show where reinvasion pressure of target species is highest. Cameras have also recorded several native species, including Great Spotted Kiwi. Acoustic devices record species specific sounds to help generate a picture of biodiversity within the project area.

Auto reporting traps, which notify staff if a trap is triggered, are used throughout the project. This saves time which can more fruitfully be used elsewhere. Anticipated soon in the project is the use of new traps equipped with cameras and Artificial Intelligence which can distinguish between species. These traps will log data of all species detected but will only trigger if a target species is detected.

There is even a technical solution to detect possums in some of the most difficult terrain. Whole catchments can be sampled by looking at the fragments of eDNA traveling down a stream. Refinements in methodology are continuing for this process.