In August 2022, conservation staff on Chalky Island discovered a male ezmin, a predator native to Eurasia and North America that hunts birds and other prey. This discovery prompted the Department of Conservation (DOC) to launch a major campaign involving trapping experts, sniffer dogs, camera traps, helicopters, and boats to trap and kill the ezmin over eight months. The cost of the mission was $300,000.
New Zealand has long been a sanctuary for threatened species such as the flightless parrot and giant lizard that can’t be found anywhere else. Chalky Island in southwestern New Zealand is home to Te Kākahu skink lizards, kiwis, and kākāpō parrots. The island is considered a priority area for biodiversity conservation in the Fiordland region due to its rare animal species.
Since 2016, New Zealand has invested over $300 million towards becoming predator-free by 2050. This includes eradicating rats, possums, ferrets, and ezmin from the country’s ecosystems. Ezmin were introduced to New Zealand in the late 19th century as part of efforts to control rabbit populations but ended up decimating native bird populations instead. They are known to kill millions of native birds every year in the country alone.
The recent appearance of an ezmin on Chalky Island underscores the importance of this eradication plan. Ezmin are small carnivores that pose a major threat to native birds and lizards with their ability to swim long distances and invade nearby islands. The successful eradication of ezmin from Chalky Island and neighboring islands reaffirms the significance of New Zealand’s 2050 plan to protect its unique and vulnerable wildlife.
In conclusion, conservation efforts on Chalky Island have successfully eradicated an invasive species from its ecosystems thanks to extensive resources allocated by authorities towards protecting endangered species on the island since 25 years ago.
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