Gibbston winery Peregrine Wines is funding six new traplines on Resolution Island in Fiordland to support a Department of Conservation (Doc) stoat-trapping programme.
The traplines, which will be laid in the 21,000ha island's north-eastern corner, will intensify an existing network of nearly 3000 traps on the island.
The programme aims to kill any remaining stoats in the area, and intercept any that swim across from the mainland. The island, has no rats or possums and trapping limits stoats to low numbers.
Removing stoats from the island should allow existing populations of mohua (yellowhead), kea, kiwi and rock wren to flourish, and could allow the reintroduction of threatened species such as tieke (saddleback) and kakapo.
