ZB ZB
Live now
Start time
Playing for
End time
Listen live
Listen to NAME OF STATION
Up next
Listen live on
ZB

Nelson cave to close for a year in attempt to save the country's largest spider

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Thu, 2 Jun 2022, 9:31AM
New Zealand's largest spider - the Nelson cave spider grows up to 13 centimetres across. Egg sac, inset. Photo / Supplied
New Zealand's largest spider - the Nelson cave spider grows up to 13 centimetres across. Egg sac, inset. Photo / Supplied

Nelson cave to close for a year in attempt to save the country's largest spider

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Thu, 2 Jun 2022, 9:31AM

A cave in a national park near Nelson, will close for a year in an attempt to save the country's largest spider.

The rare spider known as the Nelson Cave Spider has a leg span of 13 centimetres and a 3 centimetre long body.

Since 2018 only one egg sac has been seen in the Crazy Paving Cave in Kahurangi National Park, prompting action to be taken.

Te Papa spider expert Phil Sirvid says it's a pretty spectacular animal in its own right.

He says losing the spiders would be a loss of an interesting and unique part of our fauna - as they only exist in that little corner on the South Island.

Take your Radio, Podcasts and Music with you