Ross Curtis amp; species dog 'Fern' on the shores of Lake Orbell in Takahe Valley.br/br/The Murchison Mountains are located to the west of Lake Te Anau in Fiordland National Park. The rediscovery in 1948 of the takahe, a large, flightless rail; generated considerable international interest and prompted the New Zealand Government to declare the Murchison Range of 50,000 hectares, as a quot;Special Areaquot;. There are tight restrictions upon access in this area and with extensive predator trapping and deer control, it is a haven for a wealth of native fauna and flora such as takahe, mohua and whio.