Maud Island
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Maud Island, originally called Te Hoiere in the Māori language, is the second-largest island in the Marlborough Sounds on the northern tip of the South Island of New Zealand, with a total area of 320 ha.
[edit] Fauna
Maud Island is an important nature reserve to which only scientists and conservationists have access. Visitors need a special permit issued by the New Zealand Department of Conservation. Thanks to the efforts of conservationist Don Merton the Kakapo was introduced onto the predator-free island in 1974 but now all Kakapo where released onto other Islands like Codfish Island or Anchor Island. The takahe was also introduced there in 1985. Another rare species is the Maud Island Frog (Leiopelma pakeka), which was split from the Hamilton's frog (Leiopelma hamiltoni) in 1998 and is now seen as its own species.
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