Pest control has been stepped up in and around the Southland Museum and Art Gallery after a rat killed a tuatara there last week and an albatross diorama was damaged at the weekend.

It was the first time in the Tuatarium's 30-year history that a rat has managed to infiltrate the predator-proof enclosure.

As a result, traps have been set in Queens Park in the immediate areas surrounding the museum, with more throughout the museum facility.

Acting Group Manager Community Services Pete Thompson said staff were devastated to discover a tuatara had been killed by a rat last week.

“Senior Living Species Officer Lindsay Hazley discovered the tuatara on Tuesday, July 14, during regular maintenance of the Tuatarium,” Mr Thompson said.

The tuatara was one of the first breeding offspring at the museum, which hatched in 1989.

It was believed the rat likely gained access to the enclosure by scaling a two-metre PVC pipe, and climbing through an air vent, Mr Thompson said.

The tuarara were removed while steps were taken to re-proof the enclosure, and there was no risk anticipated to other parts of the Tuatarium.

“We’ve taken all possible steps to make sure tuatara in the facility are safe once more.”

However, collections manager Kimberley Stephenson said a daily inspection on Sunday (July 19) revealed a rat had caused damage to the albatross diorama and the nearby line fishing display.

“We know the damage is likely to have occurred between 10am Saturday and 9.30am Sunday because of our daily checks of the collection,” Ms Stephenson said.

Immediate steps were taken to identify and block off any obvious entry and exit points for the pest, and within hours a live rat was caught and disposed of.

Further rat and mouse traps have been purchased and chemical-free pest control options are being explored for the galleries near the Tuatarium.