New Zealand’s Otago Peninsula is now possum-free after 17 years of effort, restoring native bird life and forest health.

New Zealand’s Otago Peninsula has been declared possum-free after a 17-year effort that removed over 24,000 possums from 10,000 hectares. The project, led by the Otago Peninsula Biodiversity Group and supported by government funding, community volunteers, and advanced tools like AI traps, thermal drones, and detection dogs, overcame challenges in rugged terrain. Native birds including tūī and bellbirds have returned, aiding forest recovery. Officials stress ongoing vigilance is needed to prevent reinfestation, with AI traps and community reporting in buffer zones. The success highlights the role of collaboration in large-scale conservation.