12 April 2012

Kākā successfully reintroduced

On Easter Sunday, two Kākā that had been receiving medical care at The Nest Te Kōhanga at Wellington Zoo were introduced to the environment in Zealandia.

The Kākā had both been brought in by members of the community as young birds, after one was attacked by a cat and the other had eaten lead.

“As they were so young, they weren’t great at flying yet,” said Dr Lisa Argilla. “We treated their health issues first, before moving them into a flying aviary where they were trained to fly.”

Reintroducing the birds in the Sanctuary was the best option. “Zealandia is such a great spot for introducing our native birds back into the wild,” said Dr Argilla. “It provides a safe environment, as they will be free from predators. These Kākā were introduced near a feeding station as well, which will make it easy for them to find food.”

Wellington Zoo is still caring for two more Kākā that will eventually be reintroduced at Zealandia when they have made a full recovery. “One of the Kākā is recovering from a broken leg, while the other has metabolic bone syndrome. They’ll spend a bit of time in a flying aviary before being released in Zealandia,” explained Dr Argilla.

To help Kākā in the wild, Wellington Zoo recommends keeping your cat in at night. “Cats do the majority of their hunting at night, so keeping them indoors helps to reduce the attack rate on native birds,” said Dr Argilla. “And as tempting as it is to feed Kākā in your neighbourhood, it’s best to let them forage on their own to ensure a balanced diet.”

Wellington Zoo is a charitable trust principally funded by the Wellington City Council.

ENDS

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