Skinks return to Alexandra after 30 years
Media Release: Thursday, 3 November 2005
Rare Otago skinks have been brought back to Alexandra after a 30–year absence.
The Prime Minister Helen Clark holding an Otago skink, as Grant Norbury looks on.
The immediate mission of the charitable Trust established earlier this year is to help save the Otago skink from extinction.
The event was attended by the Prime Minister Helen Clark, who spoke at the gathering and launched the Trust.
"The Otago skink is one of our largest lizards," Miss Clark said. "It occupies only 8% of its former range and will be extinct in 10 years if nothing is done. It is actually more endangered than the kiwi.
"If we don't take action as human beings, we're going to lose things that are unique to our country. We have a very heavy responsibility to see that the natural heritage we have is passed on to future generations, so it won't be just us seeing the Otago skink, but the grandchildren and great grandchildren of those who are here today."
Ngāi Tahu whanui Huata Holmes, of Dunedin, and Taare Bradshaw of Gore, also welcomed the skinks with a tauparapara (ancient prayer) and karakia (blessing) during the ceremony.
Central Otago mayor Dr Malcolm MacPherson joked that the lizards which are black with gold markings, and arrived from Wellington, would soon be changing their colours. "I would like to think that they'll soon be running around the Central Otago hills in the Otago colours of blue and gold," he said.
The skinks transfer to a display cabinet inside the new Alexandra museum was scheduled for December 6. Museum was officially opened by the Governor General, Dame Sylvia Cartwright.
COET's immediate mission is to help save the Otago skink from estinction, says Trust chairman and Landcare Research wildlife ecologist Dr Grant Norbury.
Habitat destruction and predators, including cats and rats are blamed for the skinks' demise. Best estimates show that there are fewer than 2,000 remaining.
The reintroduction of the nine skinks to Alexandra is the first step of an ambitious four year plan set by the Trust. The major aim is to raise $700,000 for establishment of a Mokomoko (the Mäori word for skink) Sanctuary. The proposed 24 hectare sanctuary in the Aldinga Block, near Conroys Dam, will be encircled by a 2m high predator-proof fence.
The Mokomoko Sanctuary will be New Zealand’s first pest-free dryland ecosystem sanctuary.
“These dryland communities we live in are unique by world standards," Dr Norbury says. "We hope to restore the vegetation and get rid of pests within the sanctuary and return the skinks so that the community can see and appreciate what we used to have here.”
Dr Norbury describes public support for the project as "humbling". Already, a local construction company (Breen Construction) is building skink cages, and other businesses (Dunstan Glass, Ullrich Aluminium, Mitre 10, Mackie’s Garden Centre) are donating extra materials.
The longer term goal of the Trust is to relocate into the Mokomoko Sanctuary other native lizard and bird species which were previously found in the Alexandra area, including the Grand skink and other endangered species.
The trust has yet to receive approval from the Department of Conservation, who must consider issues relating to the movement of protected wildlife and the use of conservation land.
The other trustees are Garry Nixon, Gordon Rayner, Tom Lamb, Francie Diver, Derek Chinn and Alistair Campbell and the trust is assisted by local scientists, Trent Bell and Rob Wardle.
For more information please contact:
Grant Norbury
03 448 9930
norburyg@landcareresearch.co.nz
Tom Fraser,
Media Communications Manager,
PO Box 40,
Lincoln. 7640.
Phone: 03 321 9719
Fax: 03 321 9998
Mobile: 027 277 6183
Email: FraserT@LandcareResearch.co.nz
