Maud Island

Maud Iceland ( in the Maori language Te Hoiere ) is a small island belonging to New Zealand. It is about 310 acres, the second largest island in the Marlborough Sounds, a group of islands in the Cook Strait. It is managed and maintained by the Department of Conservation.

Fauna

On Maud Iceland is a nature reserve is of great zoological importance, to which only scientists and conservationists have access. Visitors are allowed only with special permission on the island.

1974 could be introduced here thanks to the efforts of the New Zealand ornithologist Don Merton of the Kakapo or owl parrot. 17 Of the 125 individuals of this species live on Maud Iceland.

The Südinseltakahe, a rare New Zealand Rail was, in 1985 brought to the island predator - and rat- free and has found a second home.

Another rare species on this island is the Pakeka or Maud Iceland Frog ( Leiopelma pakeka ), one has only split off in 1998 by the Hamilton Frog ( Leiopelma hamiltoni ) and since then regards as its own kind.