24 Nov 2021

Our Changing World - Predator lure research

From Afternoons, 3:35 pm on 24 November 2021
A photo of Ben McEwen seated at a table with his audio lure system. It's about 30 centimetres high and consists of a thermal camera in a protective casing with a microphone mounted on top. Also pictured is a long reuseable battery that charges the device.

Ben McEwen with his audio lure system Photo: Katy Gosset/RNZ

The battle to save our native birds is heating up with Predator Free 2050 spending $2.4m to enlist fresh scientific talent to the cause.

Department of Conservation figures show 4000 native species are currently under threat, with about a quarter of them in serious danger of extinction.

Predator Free 2050 has now funded six young scientists to come up with new solutions to the problem.

Katy Gosset meets one University of Canterbury student whose intelligent lure system will make it easier to trap predators.

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