Stewart Islanders are so lucky to have this open sanctuary just a short water-taxi ride away and, in my opinion, it's a must-see if you are visiting. There are few open sanctuaries in New Zealand and Ulva must be the easiest to visit with no permits required or restrictions on visitor numbers. Ulva Island is 266ha and was declared predator-free in 1996 - rats have occasionally been caught in traps since then and in 2010 a single pregnant Norway rat evaded the traps and gave rise to a re-invasion. Fortunately the ensuing poison drops were successful and the island was declared predator-free again in 2012. The Department of Conservation runs an extensive trapping programme, including the offshore islands around Ulva, and DNA testing of Norway rats found in Paterson Inlet can pinpoint where rats could invade from.
Enough writing, here's some photos from my trip in early March...
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| Astelia in fruit |
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| Boulder Beach on the SW coast looking |
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| Boulder Beach at low tide |
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| Olearia seedhead |
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| Close-up of Olearia seedhead |
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| A colony of red anemone, Actinia tenebrosa |
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| Close-up of red anemone, Actinia tenebrosa |
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| Toutouwai, Stewart Island robin, Petroica australis rakiura |
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| A curious wee robin |
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| Weka, Gallirallus australis scotti, footprints |
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| West End Beach looking NE with Oban in distance |
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| West End Beach, looking west |
More information can be found on the Ulva Island Charitable Trust
website and this Department of Conservation's
brochure (links open in new window). Ulva Island is one of New Zealand's earliest reserves and has never been logged - it's definitely worth preserving for future generations of all species.
