Young takahe pair take over the reigns at Orokonui Ecosanctuary

Two young takahe have been released into Orokonui Ecosanctuary near Dunedin. The birds - Waimaire and Bennett - were relocated from Burwood Takahe Breeding Centre near Te Anau yesterday and will be the ecosanctuary's new breeding pair. They will replace Paku and Quammen - the ecosanctuary's elderly pair who will now retire to the lower sanctuary, out of public view. Orokonui's conservation manager, Elton Smith - who travelled from Dunedin to pick up the takahe yesterday - spoke to our Otago-Southland reporter Timothy Brown from the banks of Southland's Oreti River about what the breeding pair means for the ecosanctuary.