A reserve for feral sheep on Pitt Island, Chatham group, New Zealand
- 1 October 1983
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Taylor & Francis in New Zealand Journal of Zoology
- Vol. 10 (4) , 349-363
- https://doi.org/10.1080/03014223.1983.10423930
Abstract
A scientific reserve of 200 ha has been created on Pitt Island, Chatham Islands for some 300 sheep from a flock of merino origin which has been feral for about 70 years. The reserve has a history of burning-off, and of grazing by cattle, sheep, and pigs. Transects have been established to follow changes in the vegetation. Although the original sheep were white, about 90% of the feral sheep have pigmented fleeces. Self-shedding of the wool is common in the population. The contribution that feral mammals can make to genetic conservation, and the problems that they pose to other conservation priorities, are discussed.Keywords
This publication has 3 references indexed in Scilit:
- Parasites of the feral sheep of Pitt Island, Chatham groupNew Zealand Journal of Zoology, 1983
- Feral sheep and cattle and royal albatrosses on Campbell Island; population trends and habitat changesNew Zealand Journal of Zoology, 1979
- Why should rare breeds of livestock be saved?International Zoo Yearbook, 1976