According to the New Zealand Department of Conservation, the takahe is an endangered species and a "unique bird, the largest living member of the rail family, was once thought to be extinct. There were only four recorded sightings of takahē last century and then none were seen until 1948. In that year a few pairs were rediscovered in the alpine tussock grasslands of the Murchison Mountains, Fiordland...Since 1984 these birds have bred and increased the total population on islands to about 60 birds...An important management development has been the stringent control of predators" specifically stoats, rats and ferrets.
As you can see, Travis and I saved the takahe in our trapping, tracking and photographing efforts. The trapping includes replacing the rotten eggs in the mammal traps with fresh chicken eggs. Tracking is a whole different matter. The takahe wear little backpacks that transmit radio frequency that can only be picked up with the super high-tech equipment wielded by Travis. We had to locate the whereabouts of the takahe on the island so that the scientists have an idea of where they will nest come breeding season.
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