Feeding Frenzy at Marlborough’s Lochmara Lodge

On a day excursion to Lochmara Lodge Wildlife Recovery and Arts Centre in Queen Charlotte Sound, as part of a Marlborough wine-tasting trip, the Courier Mail’s Angela Saurine encounters kunekune pigs, yellow-crowned kakariki parakeets and some very hungry eels.

“As well as offering accommodation, Lochmara runs breeding programs for many endangered species,” Saurine explains.

“[Property manager] Ken places bullocks liver on a wire and lowers it into a tank built into a stream.

“Ken explains that eels are scavengers and usually eat things that die and fall in the river.

“There are about 40 eels in the tank, including New Zealand longfin eels, which are on the path to extinction.

“When feeding time is over we stroll through the bush to find the hidden ‘punga people’ faces carved into the trunk of punga fern trees, then head down to the boat shed and grab a couple of kayaks to go for a paddle.”

Lochmara Lodge was built in 1997 by Shayne Olsen and Louise Bright. It is on the market for sale.

Original article by Angela Saurine, Courier Mail, April 12, 2014.

Photo by Angela Saurine.