03 Feb 2021

The Legacy of Richard Henry

This morning we explored Pigeon Island as Spirit of Enderby sat on anchor in Dusky Sound. Here we visited the site once occupied by Richard Henry, New Zealand's first conservationist.

Richard attempted to save the Kakapo from introduced stoats and weasels by bringing them to Resolution Island. By 1898 he had transported 572 birds from the mainland to the island. But unfortunately, all his work was in vain after weasels swam across to the island in 1900.

Walking through the forest today we could still see the punga logs that he once used for the bird enclosure. A bit further along the stones from his fireplace, now covered with a thick layer of moss.

Like an shrine, relics of Richard's time on the island are arranged on top of the stones, broken glass bottles, pieces of metal. But Richard left behind much more than this, today we listened to the calls of Robins, Saddlebacks and Yellowheads, and marvelled in the knowledge that nearby Anchor Island houses a breeding population of around 60 Kakapo.

Image © K.Riedel, Heritage Expeditions