DoC investigates poisoning of 10 protected birds in Te Anau

The Department of Conservation is investigating the poisoning of 10 black-billed gulls in Te Anau. Photo / Department of Conservation

The Department of Conservation is investigating the poisoning of 10 black-billed gulls in Te Anau.

Five of the native birds were found sick on the foreshore in January and were euthanised. Another five had already died.

Department of Conservation Te Anau operations manager John Lucas said testing revealed the black-billed gulls/tarāpuka had ingested alphachloralose, a toxic chemical used for bird control.

The department was appealing to members of the public and local businesses for information about the use of alphachloralose, or products containing the chemical, in the Te Anau area in mid-January.

The deaths were a blow for the Te Anau population of an often unfairly maligned species, Lucas said.

“Tarāpuka are New Zealand’s only endemic gull and their numbers are in rapid decline, especially in Southland,” he said.

“People may be used to seeing colonies ranging in the hundreds and thousands but with introduced predators, habitat loss and changes in land use these avian fixtures of the south are in serious trouble with some studies estimating up to 80% decline in Southland over the past 30 years.”

Black-billed gulls were a protected species under the Wildlife Act and it was an offence to hunt, kill or catch them without authorisation, he said.

“Like kiwi and kākā, tarāpuka are only found in New Zealand and are part of what makes New Zealand special. If you saw or heard anything while out naturing on the Te Anau waterfront this summer that may help us get to the bottom of this please get in touch,” Lucas said.

People can report any information to 0800 DOC HOT, using the case reference CLE-11463. Information could be offered anonymously.

– RNZ