There is a plethora of wildlife surrounding Mount Cook National Park, some of which is invasive, and others, endemic to New Zealand. The introduced rabbits, which are considered pests, are extremely overpopulated due to the fact that the only natural land mammal on the islands is the world's smallest bat. I counted over fifty rabbits on my short hike through the village.
I was also lucky enough to encounter New Zealand's rare falcon, the Karearea, which flew overhead and perched on a low branch nearby. I thought he was posing for me, but he was really just stalking the four clueless rabbits underneath him.
