Bauza Island facts for kids
Bauza Island from west, Secretary Island to the left in the background
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 Bauza Island
Location in New Zealand
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Doubtful Sound |
| Coordinates | 45°17′30″S 166°55′0″E / 45.29167°S 166.91667°E |
| Area | 4.8 km2 (1.9 sq mi) |
| Length | 5 km (3.1 mi) |
| Width | 1.5 km (0.93 mi) |
| Highest elevation | 383 m (1,257 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 |
Bauza Island is a small island in New Zealand. It is located in Fiordland National Park, which is part of New Zealand's South Island. The island sits just south of a much bigger island called Secretary Island.
Bauza Island is found in the outer part of Doubtful Sound. To the south, a narrow passage called Patea is the main way into Doubtful Sound. To the north, a channel called Te Awaatu separates Bauza Island from Secretary Island. This channel is also known as "The Gut" and is only about 200 meters wide at its narrowest point. The ocean between these two islands is a protected area called the Te Awaatu Channel (The Gut) Marine Reserve. Tour boats often travel through this special channel.
No one lives on Bauza Island. It was named after Felipe Bauza. He was a mapmaker who explored the Americas, Oceania, and Australia between 1789 and 1794.
Protecting Bauza Island's Nature
Even though Bauza Island is quite small, it is very important for nature. It has beautiful native forests that are still in their natural state. For a long time, the only animal pest that reached the island was the stoat. Stoats are small, furry animals that hunt birds and other wildlife.
Getting Rid of Stoats
People worked hard to remove stoats from Bauza Island. They set up more than 40 traps along the island's main ridge. This trapping effort took place between 2002 and 2004. After this, the island became free of stoats. However, the traps still need to be checked regularly. This is because stoats can swim long distances, sometimes over one kilometer. Bauza Island is special because it is one of only nine islands in the Fiordland area with no animal pests.
Bringing Back Rare Birds
In 2003, before all the stoats were gone, a group of rare birds called saddlebacks (tieke) were moved to the island. Sadly, the stoats that were still there killed these birds.
After the stoats were completely removed, another group of 39 saddleback birds was brought to Bauza Island in 2010. These birds were moved from another island called Breaksea Island. This time, the transfer was successful, and the birds are now thriving on Bauza Island.
See also
In Spanish: Isla Bauzá para niños
