Zealandia By Night
On the outskirts of one of the most populated cities in New Zealand lies a hidden gem. Named for the continent New Zealand is a part of, Zealandia is a safe haven for hundreds of native and often endangered species. The 555-acre wildlife refuge is completely fenced off from the outside world, ensuring that no unwanted predators are able to enter. Possums, rats, stoats, and feral cats wreak havoc on native bird populations and are a major threat to dozens of native species.
My time in Zealandia began near dusk on November 13. Many of Zealandia's specialties can only be found at night when the park is closed to most guests. However, guided tours are available to those who wish to explore the nocturnal life that resides in the sanctuary. After a quick introduction to Zealandia's history and its plans for the future, we ventured out in search of some amazing wildlife.
Many bird species have a jump in activity around dusk. I watched Pied Shags coming in to roost on pondside trees while Tui and Bellbirds sang in the background. This peace only lasted for a second. Suddenly, dozens of New Zealand Kaka erupted from the trees, screeching as if to alert the valley of a danger. They had spotted a kārearea, (New Zealand Falcon) that circled the pond a few times before deciding that dealing with these boisterous parrots wasn't worth it.
As darkness fell on Zealandia, the tour group became quiet as we all scoured everywhere from the ground to the treetops for anything alive. It wasn't long until someone called out a Tuatara. I had been missing these "living dinasours" for over a month since I'd seen them on Tiritiri Matangi Island. These reptiles, viewed by the Maori as messengers of the God of death, have remained almost unchanged for over 200 million years and have become one of New Zealand;s most iconic animals. One of the few creatures that is more well known in the country is the kiwi, which was spotted by a guide not long after. Zealandia is a haven for Little Spotted Kiwi, boasting the second largest population anywhere in the world. We were able to observe two individuals on this excursion, more than making up for my lackluster experience with the species on Tiritiri Island.
Before the tour of Zealandia came to a close, there was one more surprise waiting for us hiding deep in a flax bush on the side of the track. Wētā are a group of cricket-like insects found all over New Zealand. Some, like the Wellington Tree Wētā, are dirt common in the right habitat. Others are much more special. The Cook Strait Giant Weta is one of those. This species was considered extinct on mainland New Zealand before a reintroduction to Zealandia in 2007, where their populations have soared. While not as charismatic as Kiwis or Tuatara, these wētās, with a Latin name meaning "wrinkled terrible grasshopper," was by far the highlight of my night. This wētā is a perfect of example of the amazing success of Zealandia and the power that people have to reverse our past actions and preserve the world for future generations.