Conservation dog has a nose for kororā
Mena is a super dog hero.
Certified by the Department of Conservation to work as a conservation dog, she has done her bit to keep kororā (little blue penguins) safe on Cobham Drive.
Wellington City Council engineer Veronica Byrne sees careful penguin management as a top priority for the Cobham Drive project, which is transforming this previously neglected area into a much more appealing place for people to walk, run, bike, scoot and spend time.
Every morning before work begins, workers checks for kororā which could have taken refuge over night.
They check under and around vehicles, and in the areas where rock is going to be moved from and to – using a torch when necessary, and a special camera to help them see into the crevices between rocks.
Mena has also played a key role. A New Zealand-born Hungarian Vizsla, she is specially trained to find places where penguins may be present, or have been regularly frequenting.
The detection experts from Kaikoura Ocean Research Institute (KORI) have carried out three searches so far, checking vegetation and rocks along the foreshore and mapping spots where special care needs to be taken.
Penguins tend to avoid the construction zone, but if one is spotted, which has happened on a few occasions, work in the immediate vicinity stops, and the team seek advice expert advice on the best course of action.
Today’s Mind-Bender is the Last of the Year! Can You Guess It Before Everyone Else? 🌟🎁🌲
I dance in the sky with green and gold, a spectacle few are lucky to behold; I’m best seen in the south, a celestial sight—what am I, lighting up the New Zealand night?
Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm on the day!
Want to stop seeing these in your newsfeed? No worries! Simply head here and click once on the Following button.
No gift? No stress
Let the Christmas elves at Mags4gifts.co.nz handle your last-minute shopping. For a limited time, gift a subscription with up to 40% off best-sellers like TV Guide, NZ House & Garden, and NZ Gardener. It’s the perfect Christmas present, sorted in minutes (and no one needs to know it was a last-minute surprise)!
Poll: Is it ok to regift something that you have been given?
🎁 Holiday Gift Chat!
Do you ever regift?
What’s your take on asking for a receipt if a gift doesn’t fit?
-
79.3% Yes! It's better to regift what I don't need
-
20.7% No. It's the thought and effort that matters
Loading…
