From Wildife Extra:
Native trout reintroduced into their New Zealand homeKiwi egg at Maungatautari: here.Three species of endangered kokopu (native trout) have been returned to Maungatautari after an approximate 60 year absence.
It is the world’s first release of banded kokopu back to the wild, made possible with expert assistance from Waikato trout farmers Jan and Charles Mitchell and funding from the Waikato Catchment Ecological Enhancement Trust.
On 5 April approximately 10 shortjaw, 40 giant and 200 banded kokopu were transferred from Charles and Jan Mitchells’ aquaculture farm at Raglan into waterways within Maungatautari’s Xcluder pest proof fenced enclosures.
Maungatautari Trust chief executive Jim Mylchreest said the return of the kokopu was an important link in recreating, as close as possible, the ecosystem that once existed on Maungatautari.
Have just caught one of these in an eel net set in the Ngakaroa Stream.This is a very small tributary of the Rangitaiki River near Te Teko (BoP).I had never seen one . Took a couple of quick photos & released it back into the stream.It certainly resembled the photo you supplied.
Thought you might be interested.
Regards
Hary lagocki
Comment by Harry Lagocki — December 24, 2009 @ 5:43 am
Thanks, Harry Lagocki.
Comment by Administrator — December 24, 2009 @ 9:39 am