The Department of Conversation's revving up its stoat trapping, after four takahe died recently near Queenstown

Ngai Tahu and DOC released the rare flightless bird at Greenstone Station in 2023, to establish a wild population site.

The cluster of deaths in the past five-weeks point to stoat attacks -- backed by DNA analysis and video footage.

Spokesperson Deidre Vercoe says it's taking the deaths seriously -- and warns more could happen, because trapping's not immediate.

DOC's increased monitoring, installed more traps, brought in a stoat-detection dog, and is using baited trail cameras.