Assessment of risks and opportunities for the Napier population of northern spotted skink (Oligosoma Kokowai) Technical Report
- Author
- Bell T, Thorp C
- Year
- 2021
- Journal / Source
- Contract Report for Hawke's Bay Regional council
- Publisher / Organisation
- Wildland Consultants Ltd
- Number
- 5518
- Pages
- 33
- Summary
- Northern spotted skink (Oligosoma kokowai) is a large, diurnal and terrestrial skink. In Hawke’s Bay, it is known only by a single population located at Awatoto. This is the northernmost extent of northern spotted skink in Aotearoa/New Zealand, and therefore is considered to be regionally significant. The closest other known population to Napier is a 26-year-old record (1994) located at Owahanga Station 130 kilometres to the south, in the Wairarapa. Based on current knowledge, it is assumed there are no other populations in the Hawke’s Bay Region, however this cannot be discounted. Prior to this work, nothing was known about the current abundance, range and conservation status of the northern spotted skink population in Napier, or whether it is sustainable on a medium to long-term basis. Upon rediscovery of northern spotted skink in Napier in 2006, experts at the Department of Conservation had serious concerns about the sustainability of the population. The Napier population is known to face a multitude of threats, including: • Predatory mammals: cats, rats, mice, ferrets, stoats, weasels, hedgehogs. • Bird predators are also likely and may include starlings. • Argentine ants are likely to be present. • Proximity to a major urban centre, and adjacent land/industrial development. • Human interference, including poaching. • Habitat loss and modification, including active management of the Marine Parade esplanade strip (mowing and removal of natural driftwood habitat). • Risk of inundation by the sea due to the effects of storm surges, king tides, and sea level rises. • Flooding during storms. • Liquefaction in a major earthquake. • Tsunami. If no management is undertaken, these threats are likely to eventually cause the localised extinction of the species in Hawke’s Bay. Hawke's Bay Regional Council, Napier City Council, Department of Conservation, National Aquarium of New Zealand, NZ Landcare Trust, and Predator Free Urban Hawke's Bay (PFUHB) are all interested in implementing practical conservation action for the sole known population of northern spotted skink in Napier. Consequently, Hawke's Bay Regional Council contracted Wildland Consultants to undertake a survey for northern spotted skink in Napier, supported by significant staff time from the Council, Department of Conservation and the National Aquarium. This survey is to be followed by a risk and opportunities assessment (this report) that assesses both current and new information as a result of the survey. The situational risk component includes an assessment of current threats — predators, human–wildlife threats, land management, natural hazards and climate change — while the opportunities assessment identifies management options. Options are required for management of the population.
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