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From one museum to another of different structures all together!
Taking a nice walk by the river yesterday morning a great way to begin each day. The afternoon was spent at one of wellingtons biggest atractions " zealandia" this is the karori sanctuary. Now being in the capital you odnt expect to walk round somewhere and think you back in the middle of the south island on one of the wlaking tracks youve been on. The karori sanctuary is an incredable place;the worlds first urban sanctuary with a 500 year viosion to restore the valley back to a pre-human state. This 225hectare of regenerating lowlan forests and wetlands has been fenced in from all pest species-its designed to keep out non-native mamals;pssums-rats-stoats-cats everything that is not endemic to new zealand and that has atemted to wipe out the native species of birds, insects etc.
The sanctuary has juts opened its new exihibition where before you set foot into the valley you can find your own points of interest in this incredable exhibition of what once existed in new zealand such as the giant moa bird, how new zealand is actually a continent zealandia (most of it is underwater) witch comes with learning about how the contenents separated from gondwana land all those millions of years ago. There are all types of visual exhibits set up, information on all the species that were once living, are still living and how we have affected them. Along with information on the founder of the sanctuary the over plans witch is a 500 vision, how we can help, information on conservation, how species can be recorded. It was endless and one of the most impressive visual displays i have seen becuase of its bright and colourful apearance met by interactive displays, amazing photography, and generally how it was set out. I would deffinatly recomend making time to spend around 2 hours in there if your like me and try to read as much as you can.
From there you can head out into the valley, 225 hectares of dence new zealand bush, tracks and walks set up us you choose your route and what you would like to try and spot. It is very hit a miss with regards to sitings, its not like a small zoo, you could spend all day walking round and still be in places youve not seen at the end of the day.
So what is actually in there; from tutara , weka, kaka, takahe,hihi, little spoted kiwi, bellbirds, there is over 30 species of native birds and reptiles. I wont name them all as i certainly only saw a couple of these species.
An amazing valley met with an amazing aim by the founder to try and keep a hold of these native species before we wipe these special ones out who have managed to survive our distruction of which many did not. In the exhibition when you walk from the first floor to second up the stares signs with black siloets of species with the date the were extent an dthe cuase.....un surprise by the running trend of teh cuase- hunting, human introduction of pest species, humns....humans...humans! we ourselves are a pest species!!
i would deffinatly recomend this place, making sure you have a ful day to explore and are keen to learn and apreciate the natural world.
This may be the last blog for a couple of days as i now head north west to new plymouth before moving east inland to the volcanic areas :)! i will update as and when i can.
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