A rare footage recorded by ranger Nick Fisentzidis on Tiritiri Matangi Island captures the flightless takahe bird and ancient tuatara reptile engaging in a playful chase. The interaction, showcasing the takahe nipping at the tuatara's tail, offers a glimpse into the possible interactions between these species in the past. Despite their past struggles, with the takahe once declared extinct, both species are now protected in predator-free environments. This rare encounter emphasizes the potential success of conservation efforts in restoring New Zealand's native wildlife.
I saw them having a bit of a nip at each other, Fisentzidis said. The takahe definitely had a go at the tail of the tuatara, and they had a bit of a scrap.
The rotund blue takahe was declared extinct in 1898, their already-reduced population devastated by the arrival of European settlers' animal companions: stoats, cats, ferrets and rats.
Fisentzidis said the footage was a neat snapshot of how these species may have interacted in the past. It also shows what's possible if we really start to rally together to bring more of our native wildlife back.
The tuatara are commonly referred to as a living fossil and are the sole survivor of the ancient reptile order Sphenodontia, which walked the Earth with dinosaurs 225m years ago.
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