Anchor Island

Anchor Island is located in Dusky Sound, southwest Fiordland.

The first kakapo were transferred there in 2005, following the completion of a stoat

eradication programme by the Department of Conservation in 2001. Anchor Island is

because it has a beech forest in addition to a rimu forest ecosystem.  While the

rimu and beech forests flower at  3-5 year intervals, they are not synchronous and

therefore provide years of abundant food more frequently than on Whenua Hou.

In addition, rimu fruit often fails to set in the southern climes, whereas beech

seed is more likely to do so on Anchor Island.  Staff hope the kakapo on Anchor

Island will get into step with the more regular fruiting of the mixed beech and rimu

forests and therefore become highly productive on this remote Fiordland island.  

The 1300ha island is part of Fiordland NationalPark, and is reached by helicopter

from Te Anau