Taradale Rotary Club members, partners and friends, recently had a one-off opportunity of visiting the Cape Sanctuary. The Cape Sanctuary is privately owned and located at Cape Kidnappers. Relying on private funding and a large number of committed volunteers, the Cape is a model for sustainable conservation.It combines commercial farming, tourism and forestry with community lead conservation. The area covers approximately 2,500 hectares of private land, including a 10.6km predator-proof fence, is home to a number of endangered species that have been reintroduced to the Sanctuary, and many native species are thriving within this area.
With over 100 regular volunteers and a small team of highly qualified, enthusiastic and experienced staff, predators have almost been eradicated from the Sanctuary. There have been plantings of native trees to encourage birdlife, insects, weta, kakariki, lizards, to name a few. Birdlife is being encouraged back in response to various breeding programs, and some are being relocated to other parts of New Zealand.Rachel Ward (General Manager) and Nadine Maue (Operations Manager) shared the Cape Sanctuary story with the group and we were ever grateful having had this opportunity that is not open to the general public. Taradale Rotary Club is proud to support the regeneration of native forest and the protection of native species and has made a financial contribution to the conservation work being carried out at the Cape Sanctuary. Taradale Rotary supports the environment.
The visit was coordinated by Taradale Rotary's Past President Claire Connor.