Threatened!

Click here to learn what 'threatened' means.

New Zealand has HEAPS of threatened species.

To understand why this is, the first thing you need to do is go back in time.....

To learn more about New Zealand's past go to Unique New Zealand

Before people arrived, New Zealand was an island paradise for the animals and plants.
Thousands of animals and plants had made the lands of New Zealand their home. It was a great place to be.
The native species lived without threats, such as cats, pigs, possums, weeds and people.
They evolved in isolation from other lands and from mammal predators.

OH NO - DANGER AHEAD - here come the humans!

New Zealand's animals and plants were in for big trouble when people arrived.

Several native bird species were big, heavy, flightless and fearless.
The animals were not aware of the danger ahead.
They were not used to mammal predators, and did not know they needed to protect themselves.
Native plants were also about to become a yummy lunch.

New Zealand's native species were sitting ducks!

• Many new animals were brought to New Zealand by people.
  Many became pests - the new enemies of native animals and plants.
  Deer, goats and possums started to munch their way through the native plants. Rats and mice ate the seeds of the forest trees. Dogs, rats, cats, possums, pigs, stoats and ferrets ate animals - birds, their eggs and chicks, lizards, weta and giant snails

• The forest homes of the native species were cut down or burnt.
  Native trees were cut down for canoes, firewood, whare and houses.
  The cleared land was used for farms, towns and roads.

• New plants were brought to New Zealand.
  Many have become weeds, some clog up waterways, others such as Old Mans Beard smother native trees.

• Birds were hunted for food and clothing.
  Many native birds were killed for their feathers, as well as for lunch!

• New Zealand's coastlines also turned into hunting grounds.
  Shellfish, fish, sea lions, seals and whales were put on the menu.

• Pretty plants and unique animals were removed from the forest for people's collections.

• Buildings, roads, rubbish and pollution began to spread across the land destroying the homes of wildlife. Waterways were also polluted.

Most of New Zealand's endemic and native animal species were not able to hide, fly or run away from their new enemies.

Native plants were being eaten and trampled on by new enemies and chopped down by people.

Lots of species became extinct.

Some species only survived in small populations or on off-shore islands.

Many that remain are still in danger of becoming extinct because of people and the pests they brought to New Zealand.

Learn which species are amongst the most threatened....    Animals   Birds   Plants

STOP the extinction!

It's too late for some species.

Since people arrived in New Zealand loads of species have become extinct......

*nearly one third of native land and freshwater birds*
*close to one fifth of sea birds*
*three out of seven native frog species*
*one fish, one bat and perhaps three reptiles*
*at least twelve invertebrates such as snails and insects*
*eleven plants, with several more that have not been spotted for years*

What is being done to stop more species from becoming extinct?

Many species are protected by New Zealand law - it is against the law to harm or kill an endangered species.

Education – scientists and researchers have been learning about New Zealand’s threatened plant and animal species to be better able to help. To be able to help, it's important for everyone to learn about threatened species.

Saving habitats – hundreds of people involved with heaps of environmental organisations have been working hard to get rid of weeds, plant trees, build tracks and fences and put up signs in areas which need to be protected, like native forests, estuaries, river valleys and coastlines - these places are the homes of native plants and animals.

Pests – people all over New Zealand have been getting rid of animal pests like possums and weeds like Old man's beard. It's important to stop more pests from getting to New Zealand and to control the ones that are already here.

Safe places - some species have been moved to safer places to protect them from habitat destruction and pests. Native animals may have been moved to pest-free islands, and some plants are now growing in the safety of a botanical garden.

There are hundreds of people in New Zealand who are working hard to protect native species.

They are helping by......

Are you helping?

Oh no, there are too many things to list on this page!

It would have to include all of New Zealand's national parks and reserves, islands that have been made pest free, sanctuaries, mainland islands and heaps of other groups that have been working hard to help native species.

Hopefully, with all of these people, places and organisations helping the native species, everyone will be able to enjoy a clean and green New Zealand with heaps of beautiful native species far into the future.

Time to do your own investigating...

Want to learn more about threatened species?
Do you need to contact a group mentioned on this page?

Go to the Threatened - Resources page to link to more websites and learn about books and videos with more info about threatened species.

You can also link to more pages on this site to learn about the .....
kiwi... kakapo... weta... black robin... KCC Fact Sheets

The Threatened Species information was updated in April 2001.