Beavers shedding light on Auckland Island pigs at Willowbank this week

Beaver Tree Services are shedding light on the Auckland Island pigs at Christchurch’s Willowbank Reserved later this week.

A Willowbank spokeswoman Jo Moore said the Beaver people were doing the job later this week for free as their contribution to a community facility.

``They are cutting out trees and branches that were badly pruned about five years ago which will give more light to the pigs in that area.

``We are grateful to the Beaver Tree people for felling these trees that will lighten up the pigs area and we appreciate the work they will be doing in the reserve pruning and controlling the considerable growth of the old trees on the property,” Moore said today.

The Auckland Island Pigs were dropped on the outlying islands by the early whalers and sealers as a back-up source of food in case of ships wrecking. They bred uncontrolled on Auckland Island for more than 100 years.

The contribution made by Beaver Trees allows more money to be used to breed kiwi at Willowbank. Currently they have 40 Okarito kiwis hatched, eight Haast kiwi, 15 Great Spot and one North Island brown kiwi. Willowbank has also received 13 other new born wild chicks which they raise and return to island sanctuaries.

This season to date 52 hatched and raised kiwi birds have been released back to the Islands. Next week another release to Haast, the following on to Okarito and only 1 or 2 releases remaining this season.

Beaver Tree owner Bryce Robb said they were more than happy to do the work for free to help improve the environment for the pigs and other areas.

``It’s such a great set up at Willowbank we just want to do this work for the community – without charging,’’ he said.

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Media release: For further information, photos or interview contact Bryce Robb at Beaver Trees on 027 222-9369 or Jo Moore at Willowbank on 021 83 0158