Ulva Island (New Zealand) facts for kids
Temperate rainforest on Ulva Island
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| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Paterson Inlet |
| Coordinates | 46°56′02″S 168°07′52″E / 46.934°S 168.131°E |
| Area | 2.7 km2 (1.0 sq mi) |
| Length | 3.5 km (2.17 mi) |
| Administration | |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 |
Ulva Island is a special small island in New Zealand. It's about 3.5 kilometers (2.2 miles) long. You can find it inside Paterson Inlet, which is part of Stewart Island/Rakiura. The island was named after another island called Ulva in Scotland. It used to be known as Coopers Island.
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Ulva Island: A Natural Treasure
Ulva Island is a very important place for nature. It's a safe home for many rare birds and plants. These species might be hard to find or have disappeared from other parts of New Zealand.
Where is Ulva Island?
Ulva Island covers an area of about 267 hectares (660 acres). Almost all of this land, 261 hectares (645 acres), is part of Rakiura National Park. This park helps protect the island's unique environment.
Amazing Wildlife on Ulva Island
Because Ulva Island is quite isolated but still easy to reach from Stewart Island, it has become a vital place for wildlife. It's like a special sanctuary where birds and plants can thrive.
In 1997, a big effort was made to remove all the rats from the island. After this, many birds that had disappeared from the area were brought back. These birds include the South Island saddleback (called tīeke), the yellowhead (mohua), and the Stewart Island robin.
Other rare birds that live on Ulva Island include the Stewart Island subspecies of the southern brown kiwi (tokoeka). You can also find the tiny rifleman (tititipounamu), yellow-crowned and red-fronted parakeet, and the South Island kākā (a type of forest parrot). The endangered yellow-eyed penguin also uses the island as a place to raise its young.
Protecting the Island from Rats
Ulva Island is only about 800 meters (0.5 miles) away from Rakiura (Stewart Island). This distance is short enough for Norway rats to swim across. Since 1997, more than 20 times, rats have been found trying to get onto Ulva Island. Rats can have babies very quickly, so a small group can grow into a large population fast.
In 2022, the Department of Conservation announced that some rats had managed to spread across the island. This was a serious threat to the island's most vulnerable birds. Groups like Predator Free Rakiura believe this shows how important it is to remove predators from the main Stewart Island too.
The Department of Conservation works hard to keep the public parts of Ulva Island free from predators. A small part of the island, about 8 hectares (20 acres), is privately owned. This area is located between Sydney Cove and Post Office Bay.
See also
In Spanish: Isla Ulva (Nueva Zelanda) para niños
