Turn up your volume!
Ōkārito Lagoon is a nature reserve in Predator Free South Westland. This video, taken by Ōkārito Eco Boat Tours in April 2024, features a stunning symphony of birdsong in the forest surrounding the lagoon.
ZIP are collaborating with leading scientists on a research project that explores the connection between pest management and carbon storage in our native forests. If we can prove a positive link, it could result in significant gains for conservation, climate, and economy.
Predator Free South Westland is Aotearoa’s most ambitious predator free project yet. It represents the biggest step yet on the mainland towards the Predator Free 2050 goal.
For more information, visit predatorfreesouthwestland.nz.
Zero Invasive Predators (ZIP) is developing a highly sensitive back-country detection camera to detect and identify possums, rats and stoats to help protect remote predator-free landscapes. The device is based on a thermal camera, coupled with on-board Artificial Intelligence software and remote reporting functionality, to identify predators and provide real-time notification of detections. This camera is expected to significantly reduce the costs associated with camera-based detection; from $60/ha/year to $10/ha/year.
Funding from Predator Free 2050 Limited, along with the NEXT Foundation, Department of Conservation and Biological Heritage National Science Challenge, will enable completion of the entire development cycle from prototyping and field-testing through to supply.
The Remove and Protect approach, being developed by Zero Invasive Predators (ZIP) for the complete removal of possums, rats and stoats from mainland New Zealand , includes an automated lure dispenser, innovative rat and stoat trap, electronic transmitter, LoRa-Iridium satellite box and webserver for handling data from remote trapping networks.
These tools are already being trialled in the regional projects supported by Predator Free 2050 Limited, and the funding will enable the production and supply of products to projects from early-to-mid 2020.
Since early 2018, Zero Invasive Predators (ZIP) has been carrying out a trial which aims to completely remove possums, rats, and potentially stoats from 12,000 hectares of rugged back-country in the Perth River valley, South Westland – and to then permanently prevent these predators from re-establishing.
The Perth River predator removal operation was completed on 23rd July 2019. Since this time the ZIP field team has been carrying out an intensive detection effort within the valley, so that any remaining possums, rats or stoats can be removed before they begin to re-populate the area.
Four months after the operation, very few possums and rats, and no stoats, had been detected in the valley - an extraordinary achievement.
Zero Invasive Predators Chief Executive Al Bramley shares his insights on the Power of Two - the collaboration between DOC and NEXT to form ZIP - an organisation developing tools and techniques to help make NZ Predator Free by 2050.
Zero Invasive Predators Ltd (ZIP), in collaboration with the Department of Conservation and Predator Free 2050 Limited, have begun work on a new research programme at a 12,000 hectare site within the Perth River Valley (South Westland). The programme aims to completely remove possums (and potentially rats) from the site and prevent them from re-establishing.
Zero Invasive Predators (ZIP) is developing a modified technique for the aerial application of 1080 predator control bait to completely remove possums and rats from large mainland areas, for the protection of native biodiversity. In 2017, ZIP worked with the Department of Conservation (DOC) to trial the modified technique at a 2,300 hectare site in South Westland, with promising results...
ZIP is trialing an exciting and innovative new approach to invasive predator control - the 'Remove and Protect' model - at Bottle Rock Peninsula in Queen Charlotte Sound. In this video, the ZIP team talks about their work in this beautiful part of New Zealand.
Transforming the way invasive predators are managed on the mainland, Al Bramley General Manager of Zero Invasive Predators (ZIP), talks about an innovative partnership between NEXT Foundation and the Department of Conservation to dramatically transform the way invasive predators are managed on mainland New Zealand.