Thread: Alpine Helicopters culling tahr

Here is part of the DOC Email l received at the end of Nov last year ,stating cull had finished for summer on public conservation land -



You are receiving this Himalayan tahr control programme update as you have requested information about the Department of Conservation’s wild animal control programmes.


Tēnā koe,

We have completed our planned Himalayan tahr control operations within the tahr feral range for 2020.

Hunters can now head out on trips this summer on public conservation land throughout the feral range knowing tahr control for the year is complete.

Between mid-July and early November, we aerially controlled 7481 tahr on public conservation land to protect alpine eco-systems from the impacts of high tahr densities.

Maps showing where tahr were controlled as part of the Tahr Control Operational Plan for 2020/21 have been uploaded to the DOC website.

Sightings of identifiable males located outside of the national parks management unit have also been mapped to help hunters.




Next month, DOC will meet with the Tahr Plan Implementation Liaison Group to begin engagement on a Tahr Control Operational Plan for 2021/22.
We are approaching the development of next year’s work programme with an open mind and we are looking forward to reviewing what we have learnt over the past couple of years with members of the group.

Tahr controlled between July and November 2020:


A total of 7481 tahr have been controlled between July and November 2020 under the Tahr Control Operational Plan 2020/21.

Management Units 1-3 & 5-7

4,182 female and juvenile tahr were controlled on public conservation land located outside the national parks management unit, but inside of the feral range.
Outside the national parks management unit, DOC targeted high densities of tahr and did not target identifiable males. The groups targeted generally ranged in size between 10 to 30 animals. Other tahr were left for hunters in these areas.

Management Unit 4 (National Parks)

3,299 tahr were controlled within the Aoraki/Mount Cook and Westland Tai Poutini National Parks Management Unit to protect these special places.
Management Unit 4 (national parks) is the only location inside the feral range where DOC is legally required to target all tahr.



Thank you for your interest in Himalayan tahr.

Ngā mihi nui,

Dr Ben Reddiex

Operations Director