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Archives For 30/11/1999

A day in the life of a CITES ranger

Department of Conservation — 03/03/2014

Today is World Wildlife Day, a unique opportunity to celebrate the rich diversity of our planet’s animal and plant species and remember how their continued survival in the wild is linked to our own.

World Wildlife Day also marks the anniversary of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

This agreement regulates and monitors trade in animal and plant species to ensure it does not threaten their long-term survival in the wild.

African elephant and calf. Photo: Arno Meintjes | flickr | CC BY-NC 2.0.

CITES monitors the illegal killing of elephants and shows us that we face a critical situation with the poaching of the African elephant and smuggling of its ivory

In New Zealand CITES rangers are at the front line of the enforcement of the Convention. Today, DOC CITES Ranger, Anita Jacobs, shares with us a day in the life of a CITES ranger…

Anita Jacobs

I wake up in the morning thinking about what I might find today at the Auckland Airport. Today is one of my designated days to go to the airport to process the detained and seized items collected by Customs and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).

I am part of a team of four that checks and manages the imports and exports of approximately 35,000 species (parts or derivatives thereof) that are covered by the CITES.

Auckland International Aiport

As I leave for work the thought of what I do every day fills me with wonder. Not one day is the same and inevitably something new happens that stretches and exercises my brain.

I arrive at the international passenger terminal and, as usual, there is an array of items seized during the past few days, waiting to be processed. As I work through the items, mostly traditional Chinese medicine and corals, the importance of my job and the effect that is has on conservation worldwide strikes me once again. What I and my colleagues do on a daily basis has a direct effect on the conservation of a particular species. What an awesome responsibility!

Ivory tusks

As I wade my way through the items I come across a rolled up skin. As I roll it out on the bench I realise that it is a snake skin. I can scarcely believe my eyes; it is a king cobra shed skin. It is utterly beautiful and complete. Carefully I roll it back up again and make notes that it can be released to the importer. As it is a shed skin, considered a waste product, it does not fall under the rules of the convention and can be returned.

Dealing with shed snake skin is all part of the job

I then head over to the international mail centre and collect all the items that have been held for our inspection.

I find a massive Chinese paint brush made out of some sort of animal horn. I turn it around, look it up and down, and rack my brain trying to determine from what species this came from. As it does not meet biosecurity requirements for import I take photos to send to the museum for positive identification. As you do, I take up the brush and pretend to draw in the air; we all have a bit of a laugh and I put it away. As it turns out, this ‘brush’ was of more interest to Customs as it was literally stuffed with cocaine! And there I was playing with this thing! You just never know in this job.

Back at the office I share my experiences of the day with my colleague and together we go through all the items that I have brought back from the airport.

Going through my correspondence I see that we have received applications to export live birds to Japan, bagpipes with ivory ferrules to the United Kingdom and an import of red pandas to Auckland Zoo. What variety in one job!

Overseeing the import of red pandas to Auckland Zoo

The importance and responsibility as a CITES Ranger to manage the international movement of endangered species means good liaison with both domestic and international agencies. On top of that we need to liaise with and educate the public as to the importance of this Convention.

I may not work out in the field doing ecological surveys or relocating kiwis but what I do ensures that the work we do on the ground has a positive effect on species numbers and conservation internationally. That makes me feel good and I know that I am an integral part of global species protection.

As I sit in the Auckland traffic on my way home I think about what lies ahead tomorrow. Whatever it may be, I am looking forward to it!

You can find out more about CITES on the DOC website.

In Jobs at DOC, Native animals, Native plants CITES, Convention, DOC, jobs, King Cobra, MPI, ranger, Staff, World Wildlife Day

Jobs at DOC: Fiordland Conservation Services Ranger, Chloe Corne

Department of Conservation — 28/02/2014

Come behind the scenes and into the jobs, the challenges, the highlights, and the personalities of the people who work at the Department of Conservation (DOC).

Today we profile Chloe Corne, Conservation Services Ranger, Fiordland

Restraining a feisty fur seal pup on Breaksea Island

At work

Some things I do in my job include monitoring the populations of Fiordland bottlenose dolphins in Dusky and Doubtful Sounds in conjunction with Otago University.

These dolphins are unique, as they are the southernmost population of this species of dolphin, and have several unique morphological, behavioural and acoustic characteristics. They are also suffering from a number of potential threats.

Dolphins in Doubtful Sound

Part of my job is to monitor compliance with the Code of Management that was put into place in Doubtful Sound complex to regulate interactions with marine mammals.

I will also participate in biodiversity monitoring in the Fiordland Marine Area, Undaria (Japanese kelp) eradication in Breaksea Sound, and freshwater monitoring and advocacy.

This helps achieve DOC’s vision by working to catalogue and monitor the biodiversity and biosecurity of Fiordland Marine Area, so that appropriate sustainable management strategies can be applied.

The best bit about my job is the enormous potential for growing marine conservation. So much is still unknown about our oceans and the biodiversity that inhabits it.

My job already has an amazing amount of variety and I’ve only been here for a few weeks! I’m very excited to see what the future holds.

Young Fiordland fur seal. Photo: Andrea Schaffer | flickr | CC BY 2.0

Young fur seal, Fiordland

The most exciting DOC moment I’ve had so far is assisting a PhD thesis with collecting DNA samples from the southern fur seal population in order to assess the recolonisation pattern and gene flow of fur seal populations after the sealing era.

Not only has this not been attempted for the Fiordland rookeries thus far, the rookery we collected samples from was the pest-free Breaksea Island.

It felt like saddleback and robins were everywhere along the shoreline as we collected our tiny skin samples from the feisty fur seal pups, which were a lot harder to restrain than you would think!

The DOC (or previous DOC) employee that inspires or enthuses me most is Don Merton. While I never had the privilege to meet or work with him, Don’s achievements will be inspiring budding conservationists for years to come.

Don Merton holding kakapo “Richard Henry”

On a personal note…

If I could trade places with any other person for a week—famous or not famous, living or dead, real or fictional—it would be David Attenborough. Ideally he would be my grandfather.

My best ever holiday was in Mozambique. I could barely speak a word of Portuguese, and spent equal amounts of time avoiding dodgy looking characters and corrupt policemen alike.

Driving and navigation was an adventure with half the roads being 4WD tracks.

Bazaruto Archipelago, Mozambique

About halfway up the coastline is an oasis called the Bazaruto Archipelago, with islands made of huge sand dunes, the east African coast’s last viable population of dugongs and some of the most pristine coral I have ever seen. Bliss.

My secret indulgence is travel, travel and more travel. Although this isn’t much of a secret.

Left: Releasing a Hawksbill turtle. Right: Exploring the crooked alleyways of Lamu.

Left: Releasing a rehabilitated Hawksbill turtle, Watamu, Kenya
Right: Exploring the crooked alleyways of Lamu

If I wasn’t working at DOC, I’d like to be a National Geographic wildlife photographer. It’s nice to dream.

Before working at DOC I lived and worked for a year and a half on Wasini Island, off the tropical coast of Kenya.

As a staff member for Global Vision International I spent my days monitoring cetaceans and sea turtles in a 300 kilometre squared study area, and snorkelling to gather in-water sea turtle habitat use data, and for coral and reef fish monitoring.

I originally went to Kenya for the dolphins, but ended up staying for the whales.

Photographing humpback whales off Mpunguti Marine Reserve, Kenya

Deep and meaningful…

My favourite quote is I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do. – Leonardo da Vinci.

The best piece of advice I’ve ever been given is to seize every opportunity that comes, as there is no guarantee that you will ever get that opportunity again.

In work and life I am motivated by others that have a really deep passion for something, and can communicate a bit of that passion to others.

My conservation advice to New Zealanders is there are so many amazing, fun opportunities out there to get involved in conservation projects. Have a look at some of them and I promise you will be inspired.

Question of the week

Who would you like to play you in a film about your life?

Charlize Theron – but it would be the most boring film ever!

In Fiordland, Jobs at DOC, Marine Dolphins, Doubtful Sound, seals

Jobs at DOC: Kris Ramm, Science Advisor

Department of Conservation — 21/02/2014

Come behind the scenes and into the jobs, the challenges, the highlights, and the personalities of the people who work at the Department of Conservation (DOC).

Today we profile Kris Ramm, a Science Advisor in DOC’s Marine Species and Threats team.

At work

Some things I do in my job include… working with the fishing industry and other to reduce the bycatch of protected birds, mammals, sharks and invertebrates by commercial fisheries.

Kris Ramm giving a presentation to commercial fishers.

Giving a talk to commercial fishers on seabird mitigation – though it looks more like an air guitar competition

What this tends to mean is that I spend lots of time talking to fishermen about their interactions with protected marine species and trying to get them to think about how to reduce those interactions.

We also work a lot with fisheries observers training them in protected species identification so that we get better information about what is happening at sea.

This helps achieve DOC’s vision by… raising awareness and ultimately reducing bycatch of many of our protected species, including the less cute and cuddly ones like spine-tailed devil rays and basking sharks.

The best bit about my job is… getting around the country and talking to a wide range of people with a very wide range of views about marine conservation.

I get to have some very interesting debates with fishermen. A lot of the work is in explaining the value of these animals and just how fragile some of the populations are.

Because the work of the team is so varied I get to be a part of some really interesting and ever changing work.

Kris Ramm mountain biking at Makara Peak.

Struggling up the final hill at the last Makara Peak Relay

The awesome-est DOC moment I’ve had so far is… any time I’m out in the field to help remember why we do this in the first place. Maybe tracking little blue penguins on Adele Island in the Abel Tasman National Park. Spending the entire night waiting and listening out for those little critters then trying to be as gentle as you can while they’re doing their very best to slice your hands up.

The DOC (or previous DOC) employee that inspires or enthuses me most is… I have to pick two for this, Gen Spargo and Nick Fisentzidis out on Kapiti Island, wrangling tourists and keeping the island’s flora and fauna safe and happy. I’ve never met two people more passionate about conservation.

On a personal note

The song that always cheers me up is… Graceland – Paul Simon. I’ve got a pretty varied music taste but somehow keep coming back to that (the whole album actually).

My stomping ground is… the south coast of Wellington. Amazing diving (if not a tropical temperature) and awesome mountain bike tracks in the hills above.

My greatest sporting moment was… wakeboarding on a plank of wood while being towed by a speed boat in Antarctica. We were down there on a fishing boat for three months so had to occupy ourselves somehow.

Attempts at wakeboarding in -20C water in the Ross Sea

In my spare time I… mountain bike… constantly… some would say obsessively, anywhere I can get and anytime I can get out. Riding the Heaphy Track earlier this year was a revelation about how much fun multi-day rides can be.

Kris Ramm's bike ready to take on the Heaphy Track.

Loaded down and ready to head off on the Heaphy Track

Before working at DOC I… worked as a fisheries observer on a whole range of different boats. My fist trip was two months on a Russian trawler, where only one of the 80 crew spoke any English, which made for a pretty steep learning curve—as did a diet mainly consisting of cottage cheese and sour cream.

My trusty hound and riding/diving buddy

Deep and meaningful

My favourite quote is… Lead me not into temptation… I can find my own way.

The best piece of advice I’ve ever been given is… New Zealand is a nice place, you should go visit (that was 14 years ago).

In work and life I am motivated by… being outdoors. Doesn’t matter what I’m doing, just being outside and getting to enjoy this amazing country.

My conservation advice to New Zealanders is… get out into the water and experience what we have, if more people do that, more people care and the conservation just grows from that.

Question of the week…

What three appliances in your home would you not want to live without?
Easy! Coffee machine, coffee grinder, sliding compound mitre saw (just because it’s awesome).

In Jobs at DOC Fisheries, Makara, Marine, Science Advisor, Staff

Visiting Kapiti Island

Department of Conservation — 18/02/2014

By Daniel Deans, DOC Intern

Recently the summer interns at DOC had the opportunity to ditch the spreadsheets, stretch their legs and get out of the office for a two day excursion on Kapiti Island.

DOC Interns on the beach at Kapiti Island.

DOC Interns on Kapiti Island

Every summer, DOC takes on a small group of interns to work in various roles. This year saw the largest contingent of interns that DOC has ever dared to take on at once, with a group of 11 wannabes working for three months in DOC’s National Office.

Interns working with a DOC ranger on Kapiti Island.

Hard at work

Having had enough of us after two months, our managers sent us across the sea on an unseasonably stormy day to spend two days volunteering on Kapiti Island. Home to one of New Zealand’s treasured native bird sanctuaries, we were to spend two days working with local ranger Gen on various island maintenance tasks – getting the hands on work we’d been craving after weeks behind a keyboard.

Weta

The first day involved an invigorating walk to the summit of the island (a surprisingly high 521 metres), where we were greeted with a stunning sight of fog and rain, as well as the occasional weka attempting to steal our lunches.

The journey back down the hill was no less invigorating, having been tasked the glamorous job of clearing drains.

With mechanised street sweepers unsuited to a steep gravel track, clearing the drains involved shovelling dirt and leaves with your boot heel, and bending down to scoop it all up with your hands.

Needless to say the group arrived back to the accommodation rather damp, muddy and exhausted, but entirely satisfied with some good physically demanding labour (who needs a gym when you can do squats clearing drains?). While some retreated to the hot showers, the more adventurous among us thought that the howling wind and rain was the perfect weather for a swim. The sanity of these individuals is now missing somewhere off the coast of Paraparaumu.

Enjoying nature

During the evening (after several increasingly ridiculous games of Articulate), we were treated to a kiwi spotting tour with Gen the Ranger. While ‘spotting’ is perhaps a bit of an optimistic term in retrospect, we did hear the calls of several kiwi in close vicinity, as well as stumbling on giant weta and other wildlife.

Geckos

The dawn of day two saw Juliet and team leader Shannan up at a ridiculous hour – running to the top of the island to catch the dawn chorus. The rest of us dragged ourselves out of bed to have breakfast with the cheeky kaka, who were entirely unfazed by the human invaders to their home.

With the sight of the well needed sun, we set out on the morning mission – weeding the tracks. As it turns out, Kapiti Island is quite the ideal working location, with the crew being treated to the melodic sounds of the native bird population as we laboured. Along the way the ever-knowledgeable Ranger Gen pointed out each bird’s specific call, and succeeded in selling the job of Kapiti Island ranger as a very tempting career move.

An intern visited by a kaka on Kapiti Island.

Curious kaka

But unfortunately the trip had to end. With soggy socks and heavy hearts we boarded our boat back to the mainland, having had a fantastic taster into life ‘on the ground’ as part of DOC – an invaluable experience for all of us!

In Islands, Jobs at DOC, Wellington/Kapiti gecko, Interns, jobs, kaka, kapiti island, ranger, Wellington, weta

Jobs at DOC: Yang Gan, Publishing Assistant

Department of Conservation — 07/02/2014

Come behind the scenes and into the jobs, the challenges, the highlights, and the personalities of the people who work at the Department of Conservation (DOC).

Today we profile Yang Gan, Publishing Assistant based in Wellington.

Yang taking photos near trig at Mataikona.

Getting some snaps near the trig at Mataikona

At work

Some things I do in my job include… anything and everything that helps DOC produce great looking publications, from brochures, to posters, to banners, to reports, to maps and everything else in between.

This helps achieve DOC’s vision by… presenting information clearly for staff and the public to understand.

The best bit about my job is… getting to meet and work with all the great DOC staff around the country.

The scariest DOC moment I’ve had so far is… being fairly new and cooped up in an office all day, there aren’t too many rock falls to watch out for or possum traps to clear, but I was able to take the great opportunity to tidy the carpet under my desk when the big earthquake hit last year.

The DOC (or previous DOC) employee that inspires or enthuses me most is… there is not just one, everyone in DOC is dedicated to saving, conserving and growing New Zealand’s special nature and wildlife.

Relaxing on Lake Arrowhead

On a personal note

Most people don’t know that I… am allergic to nuts…please don’t give me any nuts.

The song that always cheers me up is… Peaches by Presidents of the United States of America. Who wouldn’t love a song about peaches!

My best ever holiday was… when I spent four months backpacking around the east coast of the USA and Europe in 2012. It was amazing to meet all the different people and explore the world, eat the food, see the sights! It all started with celebrating Fourth of July in L.A. then being recruited into a sailing race at Lake Arrowhead, camping out in Yosemite National Park, watching Usain Bolt set a new Olympic record and win the 100 metre final in London, relaxing all day on the pebbly beaches of the Mediterranean, getting over 200 km/h while driving down the autobahn and cycling through the beautiful country side of Slovenia.

Enjoying the beach in Nice

My greatest sporting moment was when… I was selected into the Central New Zealand badminton team and we travelled to Perth to compete in the Under 18 Australasian champs, where we came away with a lovely medal for runners up. It was the best result the team had ever achieved.

In my spare time I… get out and play some sport, whether it’s football, badminton or out on my bike. But if all else fails, I’ll be at the pub.

My secret indulgence is… a nice glass of port.

Yang and the Hutt Valley junior badminton teams.

Coaching the Hutt Valley junior badminton teams

Deep and meaningful

My favourite quote is… When I die, I want to go peacefully like my grandfather did–in his sleep. Not yelling and screaming like the passengers in his car.

The best piece of advice I’ve ever been given is… just relax, things will sort themselves out.

In work and life I am motivated by… people that are friendly and smile! No one likes a grouch.

My conservation advice to New Zealanders is… look around you and appreciate what we have, otherwise one day it may not be there anymore.

Yang and a friend cycling to Bohinj Lake, Slovenia.

Taking in the surroundings while cycling to Bohinj Lake, Slovenia

Question of the week…

If you were immortal for a day, what would you do and why?

I would go running with the lions. Who wouldn’t want to experience the big cats up close and personal?

In Jobs at DOC Information, jobs, Mataikona, Publications, Publishing, Staff, Yang Gan

Archives For 30/11/1999

A day in the life of a CITES ranger

Jobs at DOC: Fiordland Conservation Services Ranger, Chloe Corne

At work

On a personal note…

Deep and meaningful…

Question of the week

Jobs at DOC: Kris Ramm, Science Advisor

At work

On a personal note

Deep and meaningful

Question of the week…

Visiting Kapiti Island

Jobs at DOC: Yang Gan, Publishing Assistant

At work

On a personal note

Deep and meaningful

Question of the week…

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