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Take a virtual field trip with Google Earth! Google Earth is a free, online application that uses satellite imagery to allow the user to zoom across the globe in a realistic, virtual environment. Downloading Google Earth is free at http://www.earth.google.com. An overview manual is available by clicking here... Google Earth Overview (342.0K)
To continue: - Make sure you have the Google Earth software installed and running. - Copy the following latitude and longitude and paste into the "Fly to" field under the Search tab. - Hit "Enter" for Google Earth to take you to the specified coordinates, then come back here and read the following overview.
Latitude/Longitude: -40.8149, 174.904
Having been isolated from other land masses for millions of years, New Zealand evolved a unique flora and fauna of endemic species. With no mammals and few predators, the islands had many species of flightless birds and other species that lacked the defenses developed by their relatives in other places. When Polynesian people reached these islands about 1,000 years ago, they introduced rats and began a process of ecological change that drove many species into extinction. European colonists brought thousands of more invasive species of both plants and animals that now overrun the landscape. Protecting native species has become a very difficult job.
In a few places—mostly on small, off-shore islands—New Zealand has eliminated most or all of the exotic, invasive species that threaten indigenous flora and fauna. One of these predator-free preserves is Kapiti Island. Using traps, poison, and professional hunters, all the feral pigs, goats, cats, rats, dogs, possums, ferrets, and other predators were eliminated. Ground-dwelling birds, such as the native Kiwi, were reintroduced. Native plant species that hadn't been seen for years resprouted from seeds stored in the ground.
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