The first attempt to eradicate a pest species from Banks Peninsula has been trialled at Little Akaloa with a big push to eliminate feral goats who cause so much browse damage to native biodiversity. The project is the first of many envisaged by Pest Free Banks Peninsula/Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū and Port Hills Partnership, a collaborative initiative between Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust, Christchurch City Council, DOC, ECan, Selwyn District Council, Te Runanga o Ngāi Tahu, Summit Road Society and Rod Donald Banks Peninsula Trust. DOC have trialled a new muster and hunt methodology using expert hunters fresh back from eradication efforts on an off-shore island. The Rod Donald Trust has been the principal funder for the trial and was pleased to hear that so far 200 goats had been mustered and a further 70 shot. With more hunting still scheduled for this month we do hope that this has got the lot. Find out more from this RNZ Checkpoint feature program.
Goat eradication underway
