Wildlife: facts
Extra! Extra!... learn all about it!!

Seals:  We visit and observe New Zealand Fur Seals, Arctocephelous forsterii, which are large, very furry marine mammals.  They used to be common all around the coastline of New Zealand in pre-human days, that is, before around 1300 AD. In those days, it is estimated that the total population was around 1.5 million seals, whereas now, sadly, there are only about 50 – 100,000.  But the good news is that they are increasing in numbers every year.

We see mainly male seals, although females and pups are often seen in the latter part of the winter season – August to October.  The seals will be stretched out on the sand or pebbles, or draped over rocks, usually sleeping off their previous night’s meal.  Occasionally there will be a scuffle or fight, or elaborate ‘posturing’, as a seal either deliberately or by accident shuffles into another seal’s personal space. In those situations, you will hear their characteristic barking, or squealing from the ‘loser’ of the confrontation.

Their fur is incredibly efficient and effective.  It keeps them warm in the winter, and insulates against the sun in the summer.  There are two layers of fur, an inner layer like moss, and so-called ‘guard’ hairs poking through the inner layer.  These guard hairs have coloured tips, which give the seal its own special colour.  When the seals enter the water, these guard hairs fold down close to the skin and bind so tightly together that they are water-proof, and the seal’s skin under the fur remains dry while it is underwater.  It is said that they have 3,000 hairs per square centimetre.

Orca whales: These magnificent sea mammals, also known as killer whales, are seen only rarely.  The writer’s most vivid recollection is seeing a family of mum, dad and baby orca cruising past the seal colony, rising in the waves almost like dolphins.  On the rise the black and white of their bodies was very noticeable, as was the tall, vertical dorsal fin of the large male.

Dolphins: We occasionally see these endearing animals, often in schools of up to 40 or 50.  They will be in one of the many bays we traverse on the safari. One of our guides, Billy McGrath, is a keen surfer and has on occasions surfed with the seals in Lyall Bay – an experience he described as incredible and moving.

Wild horses:  These horses, like the brumbies in Australia, originate from domestic horses that escaped or were set free by early settlers, and have joined a wild herd.  These particular horses are Kaimanua horses, that is, they come from a large wild herd in the middle of the North Island of New Zealand.  The land-owner, Steve Watson, purchased 7 of these horses in 1998 to save their lives – they would otherwise have been culled to keep the numbers down.  When they first arrived at Long Gully Station, they were skinny and bony, and in the writer’s opinion, in poor health.  Within months, they had filled out and were in much better health.  Now they are extremely healthy animals, and breed every year. Their numbers have grown to about 30.

Wild goats:  The black ones are original wild goats from the days of Captain Cook in the 18th century.  The coloured ones originate from the days when Long Gully Station was set up as a goat farm.  The goat farm did not prosper, and finally the goats were left to fend for themselves.  They have become completely wild, and form part of the nation-wide population of wild goats that are known to cause much damage to our emerging native forests.

Banded dotterels: These pretty little birds are full of character, as they run around over the sand and pebbles of Karori Flats bay.  The prominent red and black bands on the male’s breast give these dotterels their first name.  They are dogged and very brave fighters when protecting their young.  The writer has seen a small male dotterel fighting off three large spur-winged plovers were intent on capturing its very young baby dotterel chick