Unlocking the Secrets of Little Spotted Kiwi
Helen Taylor with adult male little spotted kiwi wearing Sirtrack tagOver the past year, Sirtrack has been working with Helen Taylor, a PhD student at the Allan Wilson Centre at Victoria University of Wellington on her research into inbreeding and reproductive success in little spotted kiwi (Apteryx owenii).
The smallest of New Zealand’s five species of kiwi, little spots are also the second rarest with just 1,600 individuals remaining, all of which are descended from five individuals translocated to Kapiti Island in the early 1900s. This extreme bottleneck has resulted in very low genetic diversity in little spotted kiwi and it’s unclear what effect this and subsequent inbreeding might be having on the future survival prospects of this species.
New! GPS Pinnacle Range
QR Code for Smart PhonesSeeking New Heights – Sirtrack Pinnacle GPS Iridium Collars.
Sirtrack has a long history of supplying innovative tracking products, such as our proximity logger and microGPS. We continue to raise the bar and by looking at what wildlife people really want we ensure that all of our new products will be the very best on the market.
Reliability and performance are a given and value for money and ease of use essential. We apply this thinking to our new product design.
The first of these new products was the Ultimate VHF Transmitter, a comprehensive range of VHF transmitter collars, offering unparalleled tracking range and exceptional battery life in tough, ergonomic housings. These collars were designed and tested to perform at their best on the study animal in even the most extreme environments.
Forest Birds of Kaua´i
Photo courtesy of Lucas BehnkeSirtrack Helps to Study the Critically Endangered Forest Birds of Kaua‘i Sirtack recently teamed up with KFBRP (Kaua‘i Forest Bird Recovery Project) to help study one of the rarest birds in Hawai‘i by providing radio transmitters.Working with Naankuse
Sirtrack are proud to be associated with the N/a’an ku sê wildlife sanctuary in Africa. Marlice van Vuuren, one of Namibia´s most well known conservationist, together with her husband Dr. Rudie van Vuuren and their pharmacist friend Chris Heunis started N/a’an ku sê Lodge & Wildlife Sanctuary in 2007.
Journey of the Emperor Chick
Photo courtesy of Barbara WieneckeBarbara Wienecke of the Australian Antarctic Division has been researching the behaviour of emperor penguins using Sirtrack KiwiSat 202 PTTs.
Barbara Wienecke, B Raymond and G Robertson have been studying the at-sea distribution of fledgling emperor penguins with fledglings being satellite tracked on their maiden voyage from colonies at Taylor Glacier and Auster.
Sirtrack working with Emperor Penguin "Happy Feet"
Emperor Penguin arrival at Peka Peka BeachEmperor Penguin Happy Feet was found on Peka Peka Beach in June and has since captivated the nations hearts.
Happy Feet is being treated by specialists in New Zealand under the auspices of the Wellington Zoo. and experts from the Department of Conservation (DOC) and Te Papa are assisting with assessing when Happy Feet will be ready to re-enter the wild.
Read more: Sirtrack working with Emperor Penguin "Happy Feet"
Kangaroo Research Using GPS Collars
Blackspot the kangaroo at Waniassa Hills, ACT, Australia.Don Fletcher and Claire Wimpenny of the Conservation Planning and Research Unit in ACT, Australia, are researching the behaviour of kangaroos using GPS collars. Here’s a report on the research so far:
Australia´s capital city, Canberra, is home to thousands of eastern grey kangaroos. They dwell in the urban nature reserves and open space areas, often venturing into the suburban areas to feed at night.
Cheetah Conservation Fund
An endangered Namibian cheetahThe world's fastest land mammal the cheetah is losing its race for survival. Once common throughout Africa and Asia the cheetah is now on the endangered list. Today the species is extinct from more than 20 countries and it is estimated that only 10,000 to 12,500 animals remain.
Tarly the loggerhead turtle
Tarly´s release by Kelly Tarlton and Sirtrack staffIn November 2007 an injured female loggerhead turtle was washed up on Baylys Beach in the north west of New Zealand. She was rescued by Department of Conservation staff and delivered to Kelly Tarlton Antarctic Encounter Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre in Auckland in an effort to nurse her back to full strength.
Rafael the turtle and Australia Zoo
Rafael and BindiRafael, a 120kg adult male loggerhead turtle was rescued by Australia Zoo conservation staff in 2009 after he was spotted floating off–shore with a crab pot line entangled around his neck and flipper.
Tracking crocodiles with Australia Zoo
Steve Irwin & Dr. Mark Read with a KiwiSat PTT on a croc. Image © The Best Picture Show CompanyIn August 2007, Australia Zoo joined forces with The University of Queensland and Queensland Parks and Wildlife to track the movements and behaviour of estuarine crocodiles.
Saving kiwi at Lake Waikaremoana
Sirtrack´s Kate Dickson with a brown kiwiThe Lake Waikaremoana Hapu Restoration Trust manages the local kiwi conservation work at Lake Waikaremoana in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. Research has shown that at least ninety percent of juvenile kiwi on the mainland fails to reach adulthood. Pests such as stoats are attributed as the main cause of the decline for kiwi located in mainland forests.
Meerkat in the Kalahari
Courtesy Dr. Tom FlowersThe Kalahari Meerkat Project is a long–term research project focussing on meerkat populations in Africa’s Kalahari Desert. The project aims to gain more understanding of the evolution of cooperative behaviour.
