With continuous monitoring of traps and birds, the number has climbed to more than 60—a pair of whio on every one-kilometre stretch of the wagon wheel of rivers that radiate from the mounga.

Today, DOC rangers Erin Drummond and Joe Carson (behind you) check in on a lone male duck on a fast section of the Waiongana Stream.

Take away the limiting factors, and in most cases, the environment will recover. Where permanent damage has occurred, nature will find balance again, and new species will fill old niches.