Karori Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected natural area in Wellington, New Zealand, where the bio-diversity of 252 ha (just under a square mile) of forest is being restored. The sanctuary covers an area that was previously used as the water catchment area for Wellington, between Wrights Hill (bordering Karori) and Kowhai Park.

A predator-proof fence, specifically designed to exclude 14 species of non-native mammals ranging from possums to mice, encircles the 8.6 km perimeter. The flora and fauna in the Sanctuary is at present recovering from its pre-managed degraded state. Flora now missing from the site or rare - including large podocarp species such as rimu, matai, miro, kahikatea, and totara - are being re-established. Nevertheless, a wide variety of native trees, without commercial value but of benefit to fauna, is present including a mature colony of the New Zealand tree fuschia (Fuchsia excorticata).

Species

• Native birds that have been released in the Sanctuary since 2000 include:
  • Bellbird, New Zealand (Korimako) (Anthornis melanura)
  • Brown Teal (Pateke) (Anas chlorotis)
  • Kākā, North Island (Nestor meridionalis)
  • Kiwi, Little Spotted (Kiwi pukupuku) (Apteryx owenii)
  • Pigeon, New Zealand (Kererū) (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae)
  • North Island Robin (Toutouwai) (Petroica australis longipes)
  • Saddleback, North Island (Tieke) (Philesturnus carunculatus rufusater)
  • Scaup, New Zealand (Papango) (Aythya novaeseelandiae)
  • Stitchbird (Hihi) (Notiomystis cincta)
  • Tomtit, North Island (Miromiro) (Petroica macrocephala toitoi)
  • Weka, North Island (Gallirallus australis)
  • Whitehead (Popokatea) (Mohoua ochrocephala)

• Other native animals that have been released in the Sanctuary since 2000 include:
  • 70 Tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus) from Stephens Island were released into the Sanctuary in December 2005.

• Other native species that are naturalised without needing transfers from outside the area include:
  • Birds
    • Fantail, North Island, (Piwakawaka) (Rhipidura fulginosa placabilis)
    • Grey Warbler, New Zealand (Riroriro) (Gerygone igata)
    • Tui (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae)
    • Red Crowned Parakeet (Kakariki) (Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae)
  • Reptiles
    • Forest Gecko (Hoplodactylus granulatus)
    • Skink

External links

• Karori Wildlife Sanctuary Website
• The predator-proof fence

Wellington Region | Nature reserves | Conservation in New Zealand