A cat has been captured on camera near nesting albatross on the Otago Peninsula.<\/p>\n
The cat appeared on the Department of Conservation’s Northern Royal Albatross camera at Taiaroa Head on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Biodiversity, Heritage and Visitors principle ranger Jim Watts said it was most likely a feral cat.<\/p>\n
Rangers did not see it when they went out to check but Watts said seeing a cat in the reserve was not uncommon and Taiaroa Head was not predator free.<\/p>\n
Thirteen cats have been trapped at Pukekura\/Taiaroa Head since the start of the year.<\/p>\n
“At this time of year, the toroa chicks are all above 6.5kg and the risk is low for these birds,” he said.<\/p>\n
“However, there are many other native species, including tar\u0101punga\/red billed gull, t\u012bt\u012b, koror\u0101\/blue penguin, matapo\/Otago Shag and native skinks, that call Pukekura home which are at a greater risk to cat predation.”<\/p>\n
Cats, stoats, ferrets and rats were being targeted in an extensive predator trapping network on the nature reserve and neighbouring land.<\/p>\n
“It is possible this cat has recently moved into the area, or it is possible that it is trap shy and is not interacting with the traps in place,” Watts said.<\/p>\n