Conservation
Building a future for wildlife and wild places
We’re proud to be able to back New Zealand’s best and brightest in their wild work for wildlife through the Auckland Zoo Conservation Fund.
Researchers at the University of Waikato, including PhD student Bridgette Farnworth, hypothesised that artificial light could deter invasive rodents from entering pest free sanctuaries, like Maungatautari Ecological Island.
Over time, trees can fall and damage the pest-proof fencing that surrounds the perimeter of ecosanctuaries like Maungatautari. Breaches like these require on-the-ground efforts from staff and volunteers to help prevent rat incursions – and unfortunately, none of these methods are fool proof.