Animals of New Zealand: description and photos. Fauna of New Zealand Flora of New Zealand
Nature of New Zealand
New Zealand(English) New Zealand , Maori Aotearoa listen)) is a state in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, in Polynesia, located on two large islands (North Island and South Island) and a large number (approximately 700) adjacent smaller islands. The capital of the country is a city Wellington. New Zealand's population is approximately 4,443,900 (2012).
The discoverers of New Zealand should rightfully be considered immigrants from Eastern Polynesia, who began the development of these islands presumably in the 11th-14th centuries. Several waves of migrations and consistent development in new territories created two, albeit largely similar, but independently developing cultures and two peoples who received self-names Maori And Moriori . The Moriori lived compactly on the islands of the Chatham Archipelago, and the Maori inhabited the North and South Islands. It was with the Maori that the first Europeans who came to these lands met.
Maori war boats. According to legend, these were the boats that the first settlers from Polynesia used. 19th century drawing
The first European navigator to visit the coast of this country in 1642, a Dutchman Abel Tasman, called her " Staten Landt" It was this name that was transformed by Dutch cartographers into Latin Nova Zeelandia in honor of one of the provinces of the Netherlands - Zealand(Dutch Zeeland.) and in the Dutch name Nieuw Zeeland. Later the British navigator James Cook used the English version of this name, New Zealand , in their records, and it was this that became the official name of the country. One of the main features of New Zealand is its geographical isolation. The country's closest neighbors are - to the west, Australia, separated by the Tasman Sea (the shortest distance is about 1,700 km); to the north are the island territories of New Caledonia (about 1400 km), Tonga (about 1800 km) and Fiji (about 1900 km).
New Zealand, view from space
In addition to the two main islands, New Zealand owns about 700 islands of much smaller area, most of which are uninhabited. The largest of them are Stewart Island, the Antipodes Islands, Auckland Island, the Bounty Islands, Campbell Islands, the Chatham Archipelago and the Kermadec Islands. The total area of the country is 268,680 sq. km. This makes it slightly smaller in size than Italy or Japan, but slightly larger than the UK. New Zealand's coastline is 15,134 kilometers long. The South Island is New Zealand's largest island and the 12th largest island on the planet, covering an area of 150,437 sq km.
Bird's eye view of Stewart Island
New Zealand's terrain is mainly hills and mountains. More than 75% of the country's territory lies at an altitude of more than 200 m above sea level. Most of the mountains of the North Island do not exceed 1800 m in height. 19 peaks of the South Island are above 3000 m. The coastal zones of the North Island are represented by spacious valleys. There are fjords on the west coast of the South Island.
Fiordland National Park is New Zealand's largest national park.
Fiordland is over 12,500 sq km in the mountainous southwestern part of the South Island
New Zealand's climate varies from warm subtropical in the north of the North Island, to cool temperate in the south and central regions of the South Island; in mountainous areas a harsh alpine climate prevails. The chain of high Southern Alps bisects the country and, blocking the path of the prevailing westerly winds, divides it into two different climatic zones. The west coast of the South Island is the wettest part of the country; the eastern part, located only 100 kilometers from it, is the driest.
Mount Cook (Aoraki Maori) is a mountain in the New Zealand Southern Alps,
the highest (3754 m) point in New Zealand,
located in the western part of the South Island near the coast
The East Australian Current, passing through the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand, makes the climate of the islands and east coast of Australia warmer and wetter, tropical instead of subtropical; promotes the spread of tropical marine fauna into subtropical areas along the southeast coast of Australia and New Zealand.
scenic river Waihu, hidden in the lush subtropical vegetation of New Zealand
In most of New Zealand, rainfall levels range from 600 to 1600 millimeters per year. They are distributed relatively evenly throughout the year, with the exception of the drier summer period.
Waterfall Bridal Vale(“The Wedding Veil”). With the trajectory of the falling water, it surprisingly resembles a light bridal veil. A staircase with three hundred steps leads to the foot of the waterfall. One of the most picturesque and majestic waterfalls in New Zealand, falling through a large amphitheater of rocks from a height of 55 meters
The average annual temperature ranges from +10 °C in the south to +16 °C in the north. The coldest month is July, and the warmest months are January and February. In the north of New Zealand the differences between winter and summer temperatures are not very significant, but in the south and in the foothills the difference reaches 14 °C. In the mountainous regions of the country, as the altitude increases, the temperature drops sharply, by about 0.7 °C every 100 meters.
July in New Zealand
Auckland, the country's largest city, has an average annual temperature of +15.1°C, with the highest recorded temperature being +30.5°C and the lowest being -2.5°C. In the capital of the country, Wellington, the average annual temperature is +12.8 °C, the maximum recorded temperature is +31.1 °C, the minimum is -1.9 °C. The lowest temperature in all of Oceania was observed in New Zealand, since it is located farthest from the equator among the countries of Oceania (up to 47 parallels of south latitude) in the city of Ranfurly on July 18, 1903 and amounted to -25.6 degrees.
Wellington is the capital of New Zealand
The absolute maximum temperature in New Zealand was recorded in the city Rangiora, equal to +42.4 degrees, in the northeast of the South Island, between the 43rd and 44th parallels, closer to 43. The absolute minimum and maximum temperatures in the country were observed in the South Island, where the climate is more continental than on the North Island. The temperature difference on the island is 68 degrees, and the average annual surface temperature of the South Island is +8.4 degrees.
On the streets of Rangiora
The number of hours of sunshine per year is relatively high, especially in areas protected from westerly winds. The national average is at least 2000 hours. Solar radiation levels are very high in most of the country.
Snowfall is extremely rare in the coastal areas of the north of the country and in the western part of the South Island. In other regions, light and short snowfalls are possible during the winter months. Night frosts in winter can occur throughout the country.
Snowfall on the streets of Wellington, August 2011
Active tectonic activity in the earth's crust of this region continues at the present geological stage of the formation of our planet. And its results are noticeable even in a historically short period of time since the beginning of the development of the islands by Europeans. For example, as a result of the devastating earthquake of 1855, the coastline near Wellington rose by more than one and a half meters, and in 1931, also as a result of a strong earthquake near the city of Napier, about 9 sq. km of land rose to the water surface.
An earthquake of magnitude 6.3. The epicenter was registered in the area of the country's second largest city - Christchurch, on the South Island.
At the present stage, the zone of increased tectonic activity and the associated high number of earthquakes is the western coast of the South Island and the northeastern coast of the North Island. The annual number of earthquakes in the country is up to 15,000, most of them small and only about 250 annually can be classified as noticeable or strong. In modern history, the most powerful earthquake was recorded in 1855 near Wellington, with a magnitude of about 8.2; the most destructive earthquake was the 1931 earthquake in the area Napier, which claimed 256 human lives.
The Hawke's Bay earthquake, also known as the Napier earthquake, occurred in the North Island of New Zealand on February 3, 1931
Volcanic activity in modern New Zealand is also high, and 6 volcanic zones are active in the country, five of which are located on the North Island. Near the lake Taupo presumably in 186 BC. e. The largest documented volcanic eruption in human history occurred. The consequences of the eruption are described in historical chronicles from places as far away as China and Greece. At the site of the eruption there is now the largest freshwater lake in the Pacific region, Lake Taupo, with an area comparable to the territory of Singapore.
Lake Taupo is 44 kilometers long and has an area of 33 square kilometers. It is the largest natural freshwater reservoir in the entire South Pacific Ocean
Due to the special geological and geographical conditions, New Zealand has many rivers and lakes. Most rivers are short (less than 50 km), originate in the mountains and quickly descend to the plains, where they slow down their flow. Waikato- the largest river in the country with a length of 425 km. The country also has 33 rivers with a length of more than 100 km and 6 rivers with a length of 51 to 95 km. The total length of rivers and other inland waterways in the country is 425,000 km.
Mouth of the Waikato River
In New Zealand, there are 3280 lakes with a water surface area of more than 0.01 sq. km, 229 lakes with a water surface area of more than 0.5 sq. km and 40 with a water surface area of more than 10 sq. km. The largest lake in the country is Taupo(area 623 sq. km), the deepest lake is Hauroko(depth - 462 meters). Most lakes in the North Island are formed by volcanic activity, while most lakes in the South Island are formed by glacial activity.
Lake Hauroko
New Zealand is one of the few countries in the southern hemisphere that has on its territory glaciers (Tasmanian, Fox, Franz Josef and etc.). The Tasmanian glacier forms a narrow ice tongue 27 km long, up to 3 km wide in places; its total area is 52 sq. km. It reaches a thickness of 610 m in some parts and is New Zealand's largest glacier.
The Tasmanian Glacier reaches a thickness of 610 meters in some parts and is New Zealand's largest glacier
New Zealand is isolated from other islands and continents by long sea distances. The Tasman Sea, which washes its western coast, separates the country from Australia by 1,700 km. The Pacific Ocean washes the eastern coast of the country and separates the country from its closest neighbors - in the north, from New Caledonia, by 1000 km; in the east, from Chile, 8700 km; and 2500 km south of Antarctica. Long-term historical isolation and distance from other continents has created a unique and in many ways inimitable natural world of the New Zealand islands, characterized by a large number of endemic plants and birds.
Kea parrot - endemic to New Zealand
About 1000 years ago, before permanent human settlements appeared on the islands, mammals were historically completely absent. The exceptions were two species of bats and coastal whales, sea lions (Phocarctos hookeri) and fur seals (Arctocephalus forsteri).
Fur seal. Milford Sound Fjord. New Zealand
Simultaneously with the arrival of the first permanent inhabitants, the Polynesians, to these lands, small rats (Rattus exulans) and dogs appeared on the islands. Later, the first European settlers brought pigs, cows, goats, mice and cats. The development of European settlements in the 19th century caused the appearance of more and more new species of animals in New Zealand.
The appearance of some of them had an extremely negative impact on the flora and fauna of the islands. Such animals include rats, cats, ferrets, rabbits (brought into the country to develop hunting), and stoats (brought into the country to control the rabbit population). They brought it and possums for the development of the fur industry. When the animals had to be released into the wild, they began to climb onto poles with wires and chew them. As a result, the city was left without electricity, and the animals died. We had to cover all the posts with tin so that possums couldn’t climb up. Humans also thoughtlessly introduced black swans, woodpeckers, canaries, larks, geese (both wild and domestic) and many other bird species. But as if this were not enough, man brought deer, pigs and other large mammals to New Zealand, which he released into the wild, believing that the forests would look more beautiful this way. Having no natural enemies in the surrounding nature, the populations of these animals reached such sizes that the natural representatives of the flora and fauna of New Zealand were under serious threat. Only in recent years, through the efforts of New Zealand's environmental departments, have some coastal islands been rid of these animals, which has made it possible to hope for the preservation of natural conditions there.
Opossum
Of the fauna of New Zealand, the most famous are kiwi birds(Apterygiformes), which have become the national symbol of the country. Among the birds, it is also necessary to note the kea (Nestor notabilis) (or nestor), kakapo (Strigops habroptilus) (or owl parrot), takahe (Notoronis hochstelteri) (or wingless plume).
The kiwi bird is the national symbol of New Zealand.
Only in New Zealand are the remains of giant flightless animals exterminated about 500 years ago preserved. moa birds(Dinornis), reaching a height of 3.5 m. A little later, presumably only about 200 years ago, the largest known species of eagles, the Haast eagle, which had a wingspan of up to 3 meters and weighed up to 15 kg, was exterminated.
This is what the giant flightless moa birds looked like
New Zealand's flora includes about 2,000 plant species. The country's forests are divided into two main types - mixed subtropical and evergreen. The forests are dominated by podocarpus. Thickets have been preserved, although they have sharply decreased during the industrial development of forests. agathis new zealand(Agathis australis) and Dacridium cypress(Dacrydium cupressinum).
Dacridium cypress
In artificial forests, which cover a total area of about 2 million hectares, crops are mainly grown. Radiata pine(Pinus radiata), introduced to New Zealand in the mid-19th century. Plantings of radiata pine in the Kaingaroa Forest area have created the world's largest artificially grown forest. New Zealand has the largest number of liver mosses of any country. There are 606 species in the country, 50% of which are endemic.
Radiata pine
The country's legislation defines about 60 types of natural areas that are subject to protection and conservation, among which the largest and most significant forms are national parks (including marine parks), natural, scientific, ecological and tourist reserves and reserves. The country has created 14 national parks, 4 marine parks, 21 marine and coastal reserves and more than 3,000 reserves. The total area of national parks, reserves and natural areas under protection is about 6.5 million hectares or about 25% of the total territory of the country. New Zealand's largest national park and one of the most beautiful in the world is Fiordland National Park(eng. Fiordland National Park).
Milford Sound in Fiordland National Park
The country has several zoos and botanical gardens, the largest of which was opened in 1922 and contains more than 170 species of animals on its territory. Auckland Zoo. In addition, large zoos are open in the cities of Wellington and Auckland, and the only zoo with free-living animals operates in Christchurch. A unique park was created near the city of Whangarei, specializing in the conservation of animals of the big cat subfamily.
Lemurs at Auckland Zoo
Currently, tourism generates at least 10% of the country's GNP. There are almost 18,000 businesses in the tourism sector and they create about 10% of the country's jobs. In 2006, the country was visited by a record number of tourists in its entire history - 2,422,000 people. At the same time, on average, each tourist stayed in the country for 20 days, and they spent a total of more than $6.5 billion in New Zealand. The majority of tourists are Australian residents. The number of tourists from China has increased significantly in recent years, and in 2006 they constituted the second largest group of international tourists visiting the country. Next come tourists from the USA, Germany, South Korea, and Japan.
Wai-O-Tapu- This is a volcanic zone, which is called a “thermal miracle”. Everything there is seething and shimmering with incredible colors. On the territory of the reserve there are walking routes covering geysers, the water temperature of which reaches 260°C
Fiordland National Park is the largest in the Kingdom. The park contains national lakes with a rich history, fjords and gorges, and the mountains in its territory reach heights of more than 2700 meters
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The fauna of the islands is so unique that scientists especially highlight the New Zealand faunal region (for comparison, it can be noted that almost all of North America, Northern and Central Europe and about half of Asia together constitute one Holarctic region).
The fauna of New Zealand is characterized by a high degree of endemism (for example, 93% of all birds in New Zealand are endemic); absence of some important groups of animals (for example, ungulates, predators, etc.); the low numbers of many species, which was one of the reasons for their extinction (an interesting fact is that a single lighthouse keeper’s cat destroyed all the birds that belonged to an endemic species that lived only on the island where the lighthouse stood); the rapid pace of evolution, which contributed to the emergence of such deviations as gigantism (the now extinct moa birds reached a height of 3 m), or, conversely, dwarfism, shortened limbs, etc.
New Zealand has a large number of flightless birds (only slightly less than half of all flightless forms known on the globe have been recorded here). The flightless kiwi bird, covered with long brown feathers that look more like hair, is widely known and has become a symbol of New Zealand.
Perhaps a unique species of parrot, the kakapo, is living out its last days on earth, and is almost indistinguishable in appearance from an owl. Both of these flightless birds, like many other animals, were mercilessly exterminated by people.
Other not so original, but also unique representatives of the avifauna of the islands are also interesting.
Nowhere else on the globe is the New Zealand tui bird found, an incomparable singer whose virtuosity can only be rivaled by the bell bird. Tui is so popular that many women bear her name.
There are very few Uek drummers left, the most curious birds of the islands; Kaka and kea parrots are also rare. The fate of the latter gives rise to serious concerns due to the deep-rooted misconception that this is the only predatory parrot in the world that attacks sheep and therefore must be exterminated.
The takahe, a bird considered extinct, gained worldwide fame. The rediscovery of the takahe in 1948 and the struggle to preserve this unique species would make for a fascinating literary story.
New Zealand's birds are known for more than just their uniqueness. It is also widely known that certain representatives of the avifauna of New Zealand are disappearing from the face of the earth at a monstrous rate. The disappearance of the rarest species is mainly due to the excessive hunting of birds for fun, as well as because of beautiful feathers, the fashion for which in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. contributed to an astronomical rise in prices and, accordingly, the unbridled extermination of the most beautiful representatives of birds. Collectors caused colossal damage to the bird fauna, especially rare and small species.
The yellow-eyed penguin living in New Zealand, unlike its counterparts that nest on the coast and go to sea for the winter, nests and lives in the forest.
But perhaps the most amazing animal of New Zealand is the tuatara, or tuatara, a living fossil, the oldest terrestrial vertebrate (tuatara lived on Earth even before the appearance of mammoths).
As on other islands of Oceania, the balance in nature of the New Zealand Islands has been very unstable since the advent of man. The settlement of the islands by the Polynesian Maori was initially accompanied by forest burning and other actions that harmed nature, but subsequently the Maori used their lands very wisely.
The system of taboos (prohibitions) ensured strict control over the implementation of established norms. Forest clearing was regulated, and terraces were created on cultivated slopes to prevent erosion; ditches and trenches were dug to stop the spread of sand dunes and pebbles. Such measures bore fruit: the balance in natural ecosystems was almost not disturbed.
The picture changed dramatically for the worse with the arrival of the white man. The first European settlements appeared in New Zealand at the beginning of the last century, and at that time domestic animals brought by sailors - pigs, goats, sheep, horses, etc., as well as uninvited guests - rats, mice, had already begun to spread in the coastal areas.
In subsequent decades, 54 species of mammals, 142 species of birds and many other animals were brought to New Zealand for the purpose of acclimatization.
A significant part of alien plants was introduced along with the seeds of cultivated and ornamental species, as well as in other ways. The total number of plant species introduced to New Zealand is enormous - more than 600.
The invasion of this army of foreigners, often aggressive towards local species, and the destruction of established local biocenoses, especially tasseka and subtropical forests, caused enormous damage to the nature of New Zealand. According to one New Zealand scientist, over the 100 years of their rule, Europeans have changed the biological aspect of New Zealand more than nature and man over the previous 5 millennia.
By the middle of the 20th century. the situation was recognized as so serious that all segments of the country's population were involved in the cause of nature conservation, from schoolchildren to senior government officials. After long-term and expensive measures were taken to restore cleared forests, reclaim eroded lands, regulate the number of introduced animals, etc., the situation in the country began to improve.
Today, New Zealand demonstrates not only the consequences of the predatory exploitation of natural resources, but also examples of the successful application of scientifically based measures for their restoration.
Extremely unique. It has been preserved in its original form thanks to its long historical isolation and distance from other continents. Some species of animals and birds, for example, the symbol of the country, the flightless kiwi bird, or the “living dinosaur,” the tuatara lizard, whose closest relatives became extinct 65 million years ago, live only here.
Skeletons of a giant giant were found in local caves. birds of new zealand- moa. It reached 3.5 meters in height and was the only bird in the history of the Earth completely devoid of wings. These unique creatures were exterminated by the Maori approximately 400 years ago. A little later, presumably only about 200 years ago, the largest known species of eagle, the Haast eagle, which had a wingspan of up to 3 meters and weighed up to 15 kg, was also exterminated.
About 1000 years ago, before permanent human settlements appeared on the islands, mammals were historically completely absent. The exceptions were two species of bats and marine animals living in coastal waters: dolphins, whales, killer whales, fur seals and lions. Also, there are no snakes in New Zealand, and of the spiders, only the katipo is poisonous.
All are predatory New Zealand animals: rats, mice, ferrets, stoats, possums, dogs and cats - were brought to New Zealand by colonialists - Polynesians and Europeans. The appearance of some of them had an extremely negative impact on the flora and fauna of the islands. Only in recent years, through the efforts of New Zealand's environmental agencies, some coastal islands have been rid of predatory animals, which allows us to hope that pristine natural conditions will be preserved there.
Birds are held in high esteem in New Zealand. Stepping off the plane at Auckland Airport, you will immediately hear polyphonic birdsong, and while relaxing on the shore of the lake, you risk being surrounded by a flock of geese, ducks and swans. The smartest bird in New Zealand and the whole world is the kea parrot - a threat to unattended cars, cameras and backpacks. From others birds of new zealand It is worth noting the takahe (it was considered extinct, but was discovered again in 1948), the kakapo (moreporkowl - an owl parrot that prevents you from sleeping at night with its loud cries) and the sweet-voiced tui.
New Zealand waters are home to the world's smallest dolphins (1.4 meters) - Hector's dolphins. They can easily be found near the coast of the South Island.
Flora of New Zealand is very diverse: it has about 2000 plant species, 80% of which are endemic, that is, they grow exclusively in this country. Especially a lot in New Zealand nature ferns. One of them - Cyathea silvery or silver fern - is a symbol of New Zealand and is depicted on its unofficial flag.
Another green attraction New Zealand - trees cowrie (kauri). They reach colossal sizes and live for many hundreds of years. It’s not for nothing that so many Maori myths and legends are associated with them. The most famous kauri tree is Tane Mahuta, named after the Maori god of the forests. It reaches a height of 51 meters, its girth is 13 meters, and its age is close to 2000 years.
The most beautiful New Zealand tree- pohutukawa. It blooms with fluffy bright red flowers from mid-December to mid-January, and for this it received its second name - New Zealand's Christmas tree.
New Zealand's landscapes are delightfully diverse: mountains, valleys, plateaus, rivers and lakes, beaches, glaciers, geysers, volcanoes and fiords - it has everything in a relatively compact area. That's what makes it so exciting. Today you can sunbathe on the beach or admire flora of New Zealand, and tomorrow you can go skiing, and for this you don’t have to go far away.
20% of the country's territory is occupied by national parks and reserves with free access for everyone. All parks have excellent walking trails with information boards and places to visit. There are also two areas in New Zealand with World Heritage Area status. These are Tongariro in the central part of the North Island and Te Wahipounamu in the southwest of the South Island. The latter includes the Westland/TaiPoutini, Mount Aspiring, Aoraki/Mount Cook and Fiordland national parks.
In 2005, New Zealand became the first country in the world to introduce a carbon tax. As one of the important promising areas, by 2020 it plans to become the first country in the world to have a neutral balance of carbon emissions into the atmosphere, and thereby achieve recognition of its status as the cleanest country in the world.
Its unique natural and animal world, rich in endemic plants and birds, is due to its remoteness from other lands and long-term historical isolation for 60-80 million years.
2. About 1000 years ago, when there were no permanent inhabitants on the islands, there were no mammals living on the territory of New Zealand, except for two species of bats, as well as whales, sea lions and seals that lived in coastal waters.
3. The active formation of European settlements in the 19th century provoked the emergence of new animal species. During the settlement of New Zealand lands, dogs and rats appeared on the islands, and later Europeans brought goats, cows, pigs, cats and mice to New Zealand.
4. This became a real test for the fauna of the islands. Rabbits, rats, stoats, ferrets and cats, which were brought in for hunting, reached large sizes because they had no natural enemies.
5. Currently, New Zealand's environmental authorities carefully monitor New Zealand's fauna, and some areas have been completely rid of animals that pose a threat to the country's fauna and flora.
New Zealand takahe bird
6. New Zealand is home to two types of endemic mammals, which are descended from rare species of bats. Animals of New Zealand, which can be called the most striking representatives of the fauna of this country: the kiwi bird, the world's largest owl parrot, the kakapo, one of the oldest reptiles, the tuatara, the only mountain parrot, the kea, the hatteria, and the European hedgehog.
7. Animals of New Zealand are also freshwater fish species, of which twenty-nine species live here. Eight of them are now on the verge of extinction.
8.More than 40 species of ants also live in this country.
9. For a long period of time it was believed that snakes did not live in New Zealand. But in the 2000s, a group of researchers from Australia and New Zealand discovered the remains of these reptiles. This discovery was proof that snakes did live in New Zealand approximately 15-20 million years ago.
10. For what reason these animals became extinct is not known to this day. A number of scientists suggest that this happened due to the Ice Age. Snakes simply could not stand the cold, and since New Zealand is located at a fairly distant distance from civilization, new species of reptiles could not be brought here in time.
Kiwi bird
11. The symbol of New Zealand - the kiwi - is positioned as a bird, although it cannot even fly, it does not have full wings.
12. Representatives of this genus of wingless do not have feathers, instead they grow hair, and they also have very powerful paws, with the help of which these creatures walk and run.
13.Kiwi are nocturnal animals. They developed the ability to hide in forests or bushes and be nocturnal, which reduced the likelihood of being eaten by other animals. The main enemies of kiwi are birds - eagles and falcons.
14.They are very aggressive. By the way, kiwis do not defend themselves with their beaks, like birds, but use their sharp claws.
15.There are five types of kiwi in total.
Owl parrot kakapo
16. Kakapo is a single representative of the subfamily of owl parrots.
17. His facial plumage is very developed, so he is similar to owls.
18. The parrot's feathers are green with black stripes on the back. The kakapo has excellent wings, but due to the fact that the keel of the sternum is practically undeveloped and the muscles are very weak, it cannot fly.
19. These endemics used to be widespread in New Zealand, but now remain only in the southwestern part of the South Island. The parrot lives in forests and areas with high humidity.
20. Kakapo is the only parrot that leads a predominantly nocturnal or crepuscular lifestyle. During the daytime, it hides in burrows or rock crevices.
New Zealand tuatara
21. Tuatara is a unique animal of New Zealand, a descendant of dinosaurs.
22.It is protected at the legislative level, and the government is trying to prevent the extinction of the population, since there are only one hundred thousand reptiles left.
23.They have a lot of enemies, including themselves (male tuatara are considered cannibals and can eat eggs and young offspring). They are also attacked by birds and other predators.
24. Among tuatara, mortality exceeds birth rate. Reproduction of offspring requires a long period.
25.These reptiles live up to about a hundred years. Tuatara's favorite food is insects.
Ermine
26. An ermine is a predator animal; it has 34 sharp teeth and paws with tenacious claws. These animals are very agile and crawl well through trees. The stoat eats small rodents and birds.
27. The stoat was brought to New Zealand to control the rabbit population. But the animal successfully acclimatized and began to reproduce very intensively, which led to an increase in the population. So the ermine turned from a helper into a pest, which began to destroy the chicks and eggs of local birds.
28. In New Zealand, they found the remains of flightless giant moi birds, exterminated more than five hundred years ago, whose height was three and a half meters.
New Zealand Kangaroo
29. There are also kangaroos here. These New Zealand animals prefer to be nocturnal and live in groups of several individuals. Many kangaroo species are on the verge of extinction.
30. New Zealand animals that cannot survive on their own live in 14 national parks and hundreds of small reserves under the constant supervision of specialists. Almost all animal species in this country are under state protection.
New Zealand giant skink
31. New Zealand lizards are skinks. There are three types of skinks: otago, sutera and greater skink.
32.They can often be seen on the rocks, where they bask in the sun. The number of large skinks alone, according to the Ministry of Nature Conservation, is 2-3 thousand individuals.
33. Otago is a giant among endemic lizards and reaches 30 cm in length.
34. Skinks breed every year. The offspring are usually 3–6 young. Lizards feed on insects and plant fruits.
35. Skinks have greenish-yellow skin with stripes that provide excellent camouflage in rocky, lichen-covered environments.
New Zealand fur seal
36. The New Zealand fur seal belongs to the species of eared seals. Their fur is grayish-brown in color. Males have a luxurious black mane.
37.These animals of New Zealand live throughout the ocean, primarily on Macquarie Island. It is inhabited year-round by young males who are not yet able to conquer their own territories.
38. At the end of the 19th century, large populations of fur seals were almost completely exterminated. Currently, the animals are listed in the Red Book; there are approximately 35 thousand of them.
39. Why aren’t snakes brought to New Zealand today? Of course, if there was such a need, snakes could be brought here, at least from neighboring Australia, but the fact is that snakes are outlawed in New Zealand.
40. Breeding or keeping this reptile at home in New Zealand is strictly prohibited! Also, those who accidentally saw a snake but did not report it to the relevant authorities will also face a fine.
New Zealand sea lions
41.The New Zealand sea lion is brown and black in color. Males have a mane that covers their shoulders, which makes them appear larger and more powerful. Females are much smaller than males, their fur is light gray.
42.95% of the fur seal population is found on Auckland Island. Each male defends its own territory from other males. In battles, the most resilient and strongest representative wins. There are approximately 10-15 thousand individuals of this species.
43.But still, there are snakes in New Zealand, only not terrestrial, but sea snakes - the already visible sea krait and the yellow-bellied bonito. These reptiles were left alive only because they do not crawl onto land and are practically not found near the coast of New Zealand.
44.So why are the authorities so sensitive and categorical about preventing snakes from appearing in New Zealand? And the answer is simple - the snakes would immediately destroy the main symbol of the country - the kiwi bird.
45.The most dangerous representative of the animal world in New Zealand is the feral boar.
New Zealand insect - weta
46.Weta lives here. This huge insect, weighing more than a sparrow, resembles a huge cockroach.
47.But there are no mosquitoes in New Zealand.
48. The carnivorous snail Powelliphanta, listed in the Red Book, is also found in the country. She is capable of devouring worms that are not inferior to her in size.
49.The smallest species of dolphin, Hector’s dolphin, lives off the coast of New Zealand. An adult reaches 1.4 m in length, which is smaller than the average adult.
50.However, despite strict control, there is still a certain advantage in the absence of snakes in New Zealand - the country is considered one of the safest countries in the world for outdoor travel.
photo from the Internet
Visitors to New Zealand are amazed by the beauty of its nature and get the feeling that it was created in order to surprise with its beauty.
Everything here is unusual and very interesting. The shores of the islands are washed by the waters of the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean, bordered by picturesque cliffs and sandy beaches. The largest bays include: Canterbury, Hauraki, Tasman, Hawke, and Plenty.
Three-quarters of the area of the Maori islands is occupied by mountains, hills and hills. Low-lying land areas are located here along the ocean coast of the South Island and in river valleys on the North Island. In the central part of which there is a Volcanic Plateau, with intense seismic activity. Earthquakes happen here about 100-200 times a year. There are also hot mineral springs, geysers, and active volcanoes throughout the country. Tourists love to bring original gifts in the form of pieces of lava from these places.
On the territory of the North Island of New Zealand, the climate is subtropical - maritime, on the South Island - temperate. The average temperature in winter (July) on the North Island is +12°C and +5°C, and on the South Island in summer (January): +19°C and +14°C, respectively. It rains throughout the year, but snow falls only at higher elevations. The total glaciated area of the Southern Alps is 1000 square kilometers, and the largest glaciers include the Franz Josef, Tasman and Fox glaciers.
^Inland waters
The rivers of the Kiwi Islands are truly beautiful. They take their full-flowing origin in the mountains of the islands. The navigable Waikato River, located on the North Island, is considered the largest and richest hydroelectric power in this country. Its length is 354 kilometers. New Zealand is also famous for its lakes of glacial, tectonic and volcanic origin.
And Lake Taupo, located on the North Island, due to its area (612 sq. km) is considered the largest in all of Oceania.
^Soil and plant flora
The soil zones of the emerald islands are diverse. Here you can find yellow soils in subtropical regions, black soils on the Canterbury Plains, chestnut soils on the South Island, as well as mountain meadow and mountain forest soils in the mountainous regions of the country.
About 24 percent (6 million hectares) of the total area in New Zealand is occupied by forests. Of which the majority are local plants: tarairo, rimu, namahi, kauri, and a smaller part are introduced species: poplars, cypresses, pine trees. 75% of the local vegetation species here are unique and endemic. The majority of perennial, evergreen species of plant flora predominate.
^Fauna of New Zealand
The country's fauna is considered the most ancient in the world. It is poor in mammals. There are so few of them here that you can count them all: bats, rats, dogs. Of the reptiles, an interesting one is the hatteria or tuatara, an animal of the beak-headed order. Deforestation had a detrimental effect on the country's flora, during which plant communities were destroyed and entire populations of birds and animals were destroyed. As a result, many have become rare and are subject to state protection: owl parrot, Sultan's chicken, shepherdesses, kiwi. There are nine national parks in the country, and some islands around New Zealand have been turned into animal and bird sanctuaries. Fiordland, located on the South Island, is considered the country's largest national park.
