Aaron Fleming: Department of Conservation spokesperson defends high price tag of killing stoat in Fiordland - Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

The Department of Conservation says spending nearly $500,000 dollars to kill a single stoat in Fiordland is money well spent.

The pest was found on Chalky Island in August 2022, which had been predator-free since 1999.

The bill covered things like incident management teams, staff time, dog handlers, helicopter and boat expenses.

DOC spokesperson Aaron Fleming says the price tag isn't too high to protect at-risk creatures.

"When you're talking about protecting one of our strongholds of biodiversity and some of the special species we have on that remote island, it's absolutely money well spent."

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