More than 60 pupils from six southern schools mustered at the Waipahi Wetland for the Wetland Enviroschools Junior Landcare Legacy Project day.
Among several environmentally themed activities, the enthusiastic youngsters were able to get up close and personal with 26 longfin eels caught in the wetland by Otago Catchment Community regional manager Craig Simpson.
St Teresa’s School, Bluff pupil Indee Murray said her class had been studying the eels in advance of the field day, and some of them could be "very, very old".
"Eels are amazing - they can live up to 100 years, and migrate to Tonga to breed. Then they’ll lay 20 million eggs," she said.
Mr Simpson said the number of eels caught indicated the wetland was in rude good health. It was formally opened by its landowners - local farmers, the Vallely family - in 2021.
He said the children were excited to see the animals at close quarters, although they would not be able to touch them, as acids on human skin could be harmful to eels.
They would be returned to the wetland at the end of the day.
Event spokeswoman NZ Landcare Trust Otago regional co-ordinator Nicole Foote said other activities included brainstorming exercises, walking tours, exploration of local Māori history, and harakeke (flax) weaving.
"The event is part of our Landcare programme, connecting kids with nature.
"Waipahi is perfect, as it’s an existing wetland in a central location for several of our schools, but still in development, meaning we and the owners can show the kids the vision for what it can become with stewardship and science.
"We’ll finish the day with planting of about 300 natives, which will give the kids further ownership of this amazing place."
She said the 9ha wetland was a "rich ecological hub" containing more than 15,000 native trees and shrubs, and growing biodiversity.
The project brought together Clutha Valley, Waitahuna, St Teresa’s (Bluff), The Catlins Area, Tapanui, and Waiwera South schools.
