A new volunteer ranger programme in the Catlins is helping protect the area's sea life.
The Department of Conservation has begun a trial this summer in which people stay for two weeks in the old lighthouse keeper's house at Nugget Point in South Otago, in return for educating the public while walking the tracks in the nearby conservation reserves.
DoC ranger Cheryl Pullar said there are only five rangers to cover the whole Catlins area, so the volunteers are becoming the department's ears and eyes.
She said they are especially helping to protect yellow-eyed penguins and sea lions, though they have no enforcement role and need DoC staff support if they come across any damage to wildlife.
She said three groups of volunteers have been enrolled this summer, but DoC might expand the use of volunteers next year if the trial is successful.
