A man and his moose

In 1910 moose were released in Fiordland. The idea had been to create a type of large game reserve for hunters.
Sir Joseph Ward, who had been Prime Minister, had arranged for the shipment - from Canada.
The first release failed fairly quickly but then 10 more moose came to New Zealand on the ship Ulimaroa.
The four males and six females created a fuss - they were highly prized and had to be carefully tended, including being doused with water several times a day.
So they were released in Fiordland National Park and were to be left for over a decade to breed.
But it never came to anything. Red deer also became part of the landscape and competed heavily with the tiny population of moose.
Nevertheless they bred and in 1921 they were well established.
But then it was assumed they died out.
But legends persist and sightings are common. Photos have been taken over the years, a clear one from 1927 at the Seaforth River and then in 1952 a photo was taken of what could only be a moose standing on a river bank.
Despite believing they had died out, several were shot in the 1950’s then it was again believed they were extinct in New Zealand.
But the rumours came again and again. In the 1970’s there were signs, including a cast antler. Then, in 2001 and 2002, DNA from hair was established before there were browsing signs.
Then, only two years ago, a former Canadian hunting guide on a helicopter flight was stunned to recognise a moose in the Doubtful Sound area.
Those 10 original moose were cared for when they arrived by Frederick Moorhouse who had been the one of the original staff members of the Tourism Board, which marketed New Zealand to the rest of the world.
Frederick was later the Conservator of Fish and Game in Rotorua - such an expert that he officially escorted dignitaries on fishing expeditions - the Duke (later King George VI) and Duchess of York and the Bishop of London.
Along with being the man who cared for the moose, he was responsible for trout stocks around the country as well as the importation of wapiti, horned owls, black tailed deer, racoons, snow geese and Canadian geese.
He was also in charge of the agricultural and pastoral section at the world’s fair in St Louis.
Moorhouse retired in 1928 and died in 1929, leaving his wife Emma, a son and daughter. He is buried in Te Henui Cemetery in New Plymouth.
Picture by Shivam Kumar.