Students Taking Action Against Introduced Predators in Taupō

Taupō-nui-a-Tia College’s Science in the Community class has been diving into the issue of introduced predators and the impact that they have on our native biodiversity. With support from Predator Free Taupo, the students are turning their learning into action. They’ve set up traps and tracking tunnels along the river and are checking them regularly - ka mau te wehi!

Our kairuruku, Bronson, also had a great time working with tamariki from TKKM o Whakarewa i te Reo ki Tūwharetoa. Together, they learned about the threats predators pose to native species and got stuck into making their own trap boxes. The students even established a trapline around the kura and have already had success catching rats.

A huge thank you to Predator Free Taupō for your guidance, Contact Energy for funding traps through the Take Action Fund, and Waikato Regional Council for helping to make this project a reality. With the addition of taxidermy predators from Epro Ltd and the Department of Conservation, this mahi is a fantastic example of how Kids Greening Taupo connects local businesses, council, and experts to deliver hands-on, free environmental education in our community.