Roy Traill
Encyclopedia
Robert Henry "Roy" Traill (1 December 1892 – 11 September 1989) was a resident and wildlife
ranger of Stewart Island
in New Zealand
. In the course of his work, Traill hiked throughout most the island and as a result became a source of information on the biota
of the island for botanists and zoologists.
Traill was born in Ringaringa, Stewart Island. He attended primary school at Halfmoon Bay School in Oban
and high school at Southland Boys' High School
in Invercargill
, on the South Island
. He was a fisherman
by trade, and in January 1915 he was enlisted in the New Zealand Army
and sent to Egypt
to fight in World War I
. In 1916, he was wounded in the Battle of the Somme and hospitalised in England
. Traill returned to New Zealand in 1917.
In 1925, Traill began working for the State Forest Service and the Department of Lands and Survey on Stewart Island. He travelled by foot across most parts of the island and was primarily responsible for preventing people from hunting the native bird species. In spite of his responsibilities, Traill later admitted to having made stew
out of a number of bird species, including the weka
and the kaka. Traill was also active in attempting to exterminate any wild mammal
s that had managed to arrive on the island. Traill marked many tracks on Stewart Island that are still used today, including one from Halfmoon Bay to Port Pegasus
. With his knowledge of the island, he was able to assist botanists, zoologists, and conservationist
s who were studying the biota of Stewart Island later in his career.
Traill retired in 1958 and continued to live in Oban with his son. In 1963, he was made a member of the Order of the British Empire
(MBE
). He spent his last years in a hospital in Invercargill and died there at age 96.
Wildlife
Wildlife includes all non-domesticated plants, animals and other organisms. Domesticating wild plant and animal species for human benefit has occurred many times all over the planet, and has a major impact on the environment, both positive and negative....
ranger of Stewart Island
Stewart Island/Rakiura
Stewart Island/Rakiura is the third-largest island of New Zealand. It lies south of the South Island, across Foveaux Strait. Its permanent population is slightly over 400 people, most of whom live in the settlement of Oban.- History and naming :...
in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. In the course of his work, Traill hiked throughout most the island and as a result became a source of information on the biota
Biota (ecology)
Biota are the total collection of organisms of a geographic region or a time period, from local geographic scales and instantaneous temporal scales all the way up to whole-planet and whole-timescale spatiotemporal scales. The biota of the Earth lives in the biosphere.-See...
of the island for botanists and zoologists.
Traill was born in Ringaringa, Stewart Island. He attended primary school at Halfmoon Bay School in Oban
Oban, New Zealand
Oban is the principal settlement on Stewart Island/Rakiura, the southernmost inhabited island of the New Zealand archipelago. Oban is located on Halfmoon Bay , on Paterson Inlet...
and high school at Southland Boys' High School
Southland Boys' High School
Southland Boys' High School is an all-boys school in Invercargill, New Zealand, and has been the only one in the city since Marist Brothers was merged with St Catherines to form Verdon College in 1982.-History:...
in Invercargill
Invercargill
Invercargill is the southernmost and westernmost city in New Zealand, and one of the southernmost cities in the world. It is the commercial centre of the Southland region. It lies in the heart of the wide expanse of the Southland Plains on the Oreti or New River some 18 km north of Bluff,...
, on the South Island
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
. He was a fisherman
Fisherman
A fisherman or fisher is someone who captures fish and other animals from a body of water, or gathers shellfish. Worldwide, there are about 38 million commercial and subsistence fishermen and fish farmers. The term can also be applied to recreational fishermen and may be used to describe both men...
by trade, and in January 1915 he was enlisted in the New Zealand Army
New Zealand Army
The New Zealand Army , is the land component of the New Zealand Defence Force and comprises around 4,500 Regular Force personnel, 2,000 Territorial Force personnel and 500 civilians. Formerly the New Zealand Military Forces, the current name was adopted around 1946...
and sent to Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
to fight in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. In 1916, he was wounded in the Battle of the Somme and hospitalised in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Traill returned to New Zealand in 1917.
In 1925, Traill began working for the State Forest Service and the Department of Lands and Survey on Stewart Island. He travelled by foot across most parts of the island and was primarily responsible for preventing people from hunting the native bird species. In spite of his responsibilities, Traill later admitted to having made stew
Stew
A stew is a combination of solid food ingredients that have been cooked in liquid and served in the resultant gravy. Ingredients in a stew can include any combination of vegetables , meat, especially tougher meats suitable for slow-cooking, such as beef. Poultry, sausages, and seafood are also used...
out of a number of bird species, including the weka
Weka
The Weka or woodhen is a flightless bird species of the rail family. It is endemic to New Zealand, where four subspecies are recognized. Weka are sturdy brown birds, about the size of a chicken. As omnivores, they feed mainly on invertebrates and fruit...
and the kaka. Traill was also active in attempting to exterminate any wild mammal
Mammal
Mammals are members of a class of air-breathing vertebrate animals characterised by the possession of endothermy, hair, three middle ear bones, and mammary glands functional in mothers with young...
s that had managed to arrive on the island. Traill marked many tracks on Stewart Island that are still used today, including one from Halfmoon Bay to Port Pegasus
Port Pegasus
Port Pegasus is located at the southern end of Stewart Island in New Zealand. From the 1890s to the 1950s, Port Pegasus was the site of a small fishing community. There was also a small tin-mining boom in the area in the 1890s...
. With his knowledge of the island, he was able to assist botanists, zoologists, and conservationist
Conservationist
Conservationists are proponents or advocates of conservation. They advocate for the protection of all the species in an ecosystem with a strong focus on the natural environment...
s who were studying the biota of Stewart Island later in his career.
Traill retired in 1958 and continued to live in Oban with his son. In 1963, he was made a member of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(MBE
MBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
). He spent his last years in a hospital in Invercargill and died there at age 96.