Wellington: Here's Lookin' At You

When Wellington turns on a clear, blue-sky winter's day grab the opportunity!

Finally visited Zealandia eco-sanctuary, a fenced-off conservation 'island' by the city, and met one of these guys - an endangered flightless takahe. I worked with these rare birds in the mid-'90's so it was nice to get up close in another location. They were thought extinct in 1898 but were 'rediscovered' in 1948 in a remote South Island valley. The Department of Conservation is still working hard to get to the magic 500 needed for a healthy self-sustaining population; we're over half-way now.