Marlborough Sounds under pressure from feral ungulates

High numbers of feral deer and goats are stripping out the entire understory of this forest on Mt Cawte.

The number of wild deer, goats and pigs in the Sounds area is reaching very high levels, the Trust recently warned the Marlborough District Council.

The Trust estimates there could be 30,000 feral ungulates in the Sounds - and at that level will be having a devastating impact on native forests, and increasing the risk of slope instability, marine sedimentation and faecal contamination of water supplies.

More information is available here.