Images Dated 26th March 2008

Tane Mahuta - this giant Kauri tree is the largest known living Kauri in New Zealand and is more than 1250 years old. Tane Mahute is Maori and means 'Ruler of the Forest'

SAS-837
Tane Mahuta - this giant Kauri tree is the largest known living Kauri in New Zealand and is more than 1250 years old. Tane Mahute is Maori and means 'Ruler of the Forest'.
Waipoua Forest Sanctuary, Northland, North Island, New Zealand
Agathis australis
The felling of nearly all of New Zealand's Kauri forests is a very sad story. The oldest of the few giant Kauris that are left are over 1200 years old and deliver an unbelievable volume of valuable wood. That is the reason why nearly all of them were felled starting from around 150 years ago when the Europeans entered the land. In just over 100 years logging gum-digging and burning transformed the northern landscape from forest to farmland. A final push to extract the last Kauri swept through the north of New Zealand in the 1920s-30s reducing the beleaguered forest to the few patches surviving today. Despite being reduced to less than 5 % of their former extent new generations of kauri forests are once more thrusting up through the scrub wherever areas of marginal farmland are abandoned. The very slow growing but very resistent Kauri is the ultimate survivor.
Steffen & Alexandra Sailer
Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in anyway

© Steffen & Alexandra Sailer/ardea.com

Australian Magpie - A female of the white-backed race

DH-4332
Australian Magpie - A female of the white-backed race
Walkerville North Camping Ground, southern Victoria, Australia.
Cracticus tibicen hypoleuca
latin previuosly Gymnorhina tibicen hypoleuca
Don Hadden
Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in any way

© Don Hadden/ardea.com