Kiwithrottlejockey
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« on: January 28, 2011, 04:48:00 pm » |
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Rats must go for sake of tourismBy SCOT MACKAY - The Southland Times | 11:29AM - Friday, 28 January 2011STEWART ISLAND tourism operators fear their businesses would be destroyed if rat numbers on Ulva Island escalate.
Operators spoken to yesterday said Ulva Island was the star attraction for Stewart Island and was world famous for its large amount of native birds and lack of pests.
The island has been rat-free for about 12 years, but a breeding population has established itself in the past seven months, threatening wildlife.
Ulva Guided Tours owner Ulva Goodwillie, who was named after the island, said Stewart Island was regarded as a mecca for bird watching.
Few New Zealanders knew about it, but people come from around the world to see the rare species there, she said.
The majority of money made on Stewart Island was linked to environmental tourism and Ulva Island was at the centre of that, along with kiwi spotting, she said.
"We have a worldwide reputation, even though we don't know it in New Zealand. If we did not have Ulva Island, we would not have any [tourists]; it is the hub, it keeps the island going," she said.
Freelance guide Matt Jones said a study completed a couple of years ago showed about 46,000 people visited Stewart Island each year and he expected 90 per cent of those would have visited Ulva Island.
"A large per cent of the community are quite upset that there is a large amount of rats on the island and want it sorted out ASAP," he said.
Greenvale Stewart Island Bed & Breakfast owner Wendy Hallett agreed and said it would be a disaster if the rat population increased, but she did not think that would happen.
"If they get completely out of control it would be disastrous — (but) it won't happen because the people here are so passionate about it," she said.
The community helped the Department of Conservation make the island predator-free before and they could do it again, she said.
Meanwhile, DOC is still working out what techniques it will use to rid the island of rats. The department is working out the costs in the next few weeks.http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/4593186/Rats-must-go-for-sake-of-tourism
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