Prisoners doing bit for conservation

A prisoner at the Otago Corrections Facility builds a stoat trap. Photos supplied.
A prisoner at the Otago Corrections Facility builds a stoat trap. Photos supplied.
Some of the 20 relocation boxes built by OCF prisoners and ready to transport mohua and South...
Some of the 20 relocation boxes built by OCF prisoners and ready to transport mohua and South Island robin to Lake Te Anau.

Prisoners at Otago Corrections Facility (OCF) are doing their bit to help protect the region's native birds by building stoat traps.

Thirty-five stoat traps have been constructed at Milburn by prisoners and delivered to bush around Lake Te Anau. A further 65 have been requested by the Department of Conservation.

Prisoners have also constructed 20 relocation boxes, to be used for transporting mohua and South Island robin, and six nesting platforms for crested grebe in the same area.

The Building Capacity to Boost Conservation initiative is a partnership between OCF and Doc.

The initiative allowed prisoners to gain credits towards NZQA approved study at the prison.

Assistant prison director Gill Brown said the partnership "ticks all the boxes'' for contributing to the community and teaching employable skills.

"The prisoners involved in this partnership are making a contribution to the community that they can be particularly proud of.

"An important aspect of prison industries is to be engaged in an activity that has a useful purpose,'' Ms Brown said.

Doc partnerships ranger Sue Streatfield said the initiative was a "fitting example'' of how Doc could do more with the help of others.

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