Daisy, the Campbell Island teal duck credited with saving the species from extinction, has died.
During her 12 years of captivity, Daisy reared 24 ducklings, which in turn produced 39 more ducks.
"This remarkable event marked a significant occasion in the captive breeding programme and essentially secured the future of the species,"
said Department of Conservation spokeswoman Karen Barlow.
Only about 30 of the ducks, the world's rarest, are left in the wild.
About 80 more are in captivity.
In 1975 Daisy was among a tiny population of Campbell Island teal rediscovered on Dent Island. The islands are about 600km southeast of Stewart Island.
Department staff took the birds to a captive breeding programme at Mt Bruce, near Masterton.
There Daisy met Donald, her mate, and became one of only four wild-origin females to breed in captivity.
The department's project to re-introduce the ducks to Campbell Island once rats were eradicated began last year.
The Mt Bruce national wildlife centre is also home to the captive breeding programme of the shore plover, of which there are fewer than 20.
Mount Bruce
Further reading
nzherald.co.nz/environment
