Imagine a place where the possum population has been completely wiped out – a conservationist's dream! That's exactly what happened in Wainuiomata recently, but the victory was bittersweet. A pest control operation managed to drive the possum numbers down to zero, the lowest they've been in 20 years! This incredible feat was achieved through aerial drops of 1080, a method employed by the Greater Wellington Regional Council. The last drop took place on August 15th.
Director of delivery, Jack Mace, shared that their wax tag monitoring system confirmed the absence of possums – a new record, surpassing the previous low of 0.1 percent recorded after a 1080 operation in 2005. Mace explained, "It's very rare that we achieve almost complete elimination like this in a 1080 operation. It was well planned and executed by our pest animals team."
But here's where it gets controversial... the triumph was short-lived. "We know results like this never last forever - reinvasion is inevitable," Mace admitted. The goal is to consistently manage the possum and rat populations to give the forest and birds a chance to recover.
Mace also highlighted that 1080 is a safe and effective method for pest management, with no traces found in water samples taken after the drops. The process was aided by trail cameras, which showed a reduction in stoats and feral cats as well.
And this is the part most people miss... The next phase involves tackling larger pests like deer, goats, and pigs. Mace expressed concern about the increasing populations of these ungulates, which have been damaging the forest's ground cover and understory. "The canopy is relatively healthy; however a forest ecosystem needs all levels - ground cover, understory and canopy - to thrive. The zero ungulate programme will see a significant increase in pest animal control and an extension of the ungulate-proof fence to prevent reinvasion," he said. The project aims to remove these ungulates and keep them out.
The Wainuiomata Water Collection Area is home to northern rātā and rimu trees, which Mace described as "jewels in the crown of lower North Island forest."
What do you think about the use of 1080? Do you agree with the council's approach, or do you have alternative solutions in mind? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
