Nature enthusiast tour group from Nobel Caledonia cruise ship. TIS/26102333
Rarotonga continues to attract visitors from around the world, including cruise ship visitors, who are drawn to the island’s natural beauty and unique biodiversity.
Each year, passengers from across Europe, Asia and the United States arrive on our shores to explore the natural beauty, culture and hospitality that make the Cook Islands unique.
Among the island’s most sought-after attractions, to which recent cruise ship visitors have taken part in, is the guided tour of the Takitumu Conservation Area (TCA), a 155-hectare protected reserve that safeguards some of the Cook Islands’ most important native and endemic bird and plant species. For visitors eager to experience Rarotonga’s unique biodiversity firsthand, the TCA offers guided tours that provide insight into the area’s rich conservation history and the native wildlife that calls it home.
The TCA conservation history starts back prior to 1989, when urgent action was taken to protect the critically endangered Kakerori, also known as the Rarotongan flycatcher. Our little feathered icon was, at the time, only 29 birds away from extinction. During the mid-1800s, the Kakerori was reported to be seen throughout Rarotonga. However, their numbers began to decline to the point of being called scarce in the 1900s. Then in the 1970s, a small population was found in the mountain valleys between Tōtoko’itu, Turoa and Lower Avana, what is now known as the Takitumu Conservation Area.
Population monitoring revealed that the Kakerori was under increasing pressure from introduced invasive species. Ship rats attacked eggs and chicks, while feral cats hunted adult birds. Researchers recorded 38 Kakerori in 1987, but numbers fell to 36 in 1988 and just 29 birds by 1989, highlighting the urgent need for conservation action.
The situation was dire with the Kākerōri being placed in the global top 10 rarest bird species. However, once the problem was identified, there was hope that the numbers could return to what they once were. An experimental conservation programme began in September 1989 in the upper Tōtoko’itu catchment. Rat poisoning and nest protection were introduced across 15 hectares of forest and after seeing that the breeding birds in this area were more successful than non-protected areas, they expanded to the surrounding forest. The impact of these conservation efforts was felt across the wider ecosystem. With rat and feral cat numbers reduced, native wildlife faced fewer threats, allowing endemic species such as the Kākerōri and the I'oi (Rarotonga Starling) to recover and build their populations.
Today, the Takitumu Conservation Area welcomes visitors from around the world, offering guided tours that showcase one of Rarotonga’s most important conservation success stories.
Among the latest visitors were passengers from the cruise ship Oceania Cruise and the Noble Caledonia, which together brought in over 1000 guests from across Europe and the United States. Around 60 visitors from the two cruise liners chose to take part in a guided tour of the TCA, keen to experience the island’s unique native wildlife, learn and contribute towards the conservation efforts that have helped protect it.
For many, a highlight of the tour was the opportunity to see the endangered kākerōri and the I'oi in their natural habitat. Others were equally fascinated by the rich diversity of plants and insects found within the reserve.
Leading these guided tours, as well as the ongoing maintenance and protection of the Takitumu Conservation Area, has been long-time caretaker Ian Karika, with additional support in recent years from Te Ipukarea Society (TIS) staff members Ake Tairea and Sieni Tiraa-Ivaiti. This year, Ake and Sieni have led several guided tours, reflecting increasing interest in nature-based experiences. Their work highlights one of the positive benefits of tourism, where visitor interest helps support conservation efforts while creating opportunities for local people to share the Cook Islands’ unique environmental and cultural heritage.
For visitors seeking a quieter, nature-focused experience during their stay in Rarotonga, a guided tour of the TCA is well worth considering. To arrange a tour, contact TCA caretaker Ian Karika on mobile at +682 55499.
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