Kakapo Display at Te Rau Aroha Marae (Bluff) on Waitangi Day cancelled

A plan to display male kakapo Rooster at Te Rau Aroha Marae (Bluff) overnight on February 05th has been cancelled to ensure the wellbeing of the bird.

Kakapo Recovery programme manager Deidre Vercoe Scott said Rooster had been weighed after his capture this week and was under the 1.8kg weight threshold that had been set for captive display.

“When he was captured this week he was 1.75kg. He would be expected to lose a small amount of weight during the display, and we aren’t comfortable with any loss at his current weight.”

A good average weight for a male kakapo is between 2kg and 2.5kg, she said.
“Rooster is still entirely healthy. But as a 3-year-old, he’s been wandering around a lot and exploring.”

Ms Vercoe Scott acknowledged many people would be disappointed to miss out on the viewing, “But with only 127 kakapo it’s crucial we put their wellbeing first.”

Rooster is the only bird currently on Whenua Hou/Codfish Island with a disposition suitable for being on captive display in Bluff.

“The Department of Conservation will still be celebrating treaty relationships, with the display of a Takahe at the Te Rau Aroha Marae celebrations,” she said.

ENDS

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