A $100,000 bounty offer may settle the issue of whether moose still live in Fiordland.
New Zealand clothing company Hallenstein Brothers has pledged the bounty for anyone who takes a picture of the elusive moose in its southern habitat.
The campaign was inspired in part by Bull Creek moose hunter Ken Tustin,
who has searched for moose for more than 30 years and written two books on the subject.
Ten young moose from Canada were released at Supper Cove, Dusky Sound, in April 1910. An earlier attempt to establish moose near Hokitika in 1900 had failed.
The Government and Tourist Department of the day hoped they would form the genesis of a future sporting resource. Over the years, several were shot by trophy hunters in Fiordland. The last confirmed shooting was in April 1952.
Since then there have been no confirmed sightings and it was believed they had died out.
"Kiwi men have been debating for the last 50 years about the existence of a moose in New Zealand and we think it is time to help Ken Tustin out," Hallensteins general manager Glenn Hunter said yesterday.
The six-week campaign will be launched on April 10.
