Hawkes Bay Sanctuary to get ZEALANDIA Kākā

Hawkes Bay Sanctuary to get ZEALANDIA Kākā

Wellington, NZ – This month ZEALANDIA Ecosanctuary will be transferring up to 10 juvenile kākā to Cape Sanctuary in order to help another population of these endemic parrots become established. The delicate task of capturing the juvenile parrots began in mid-March and is hoped to be completed during April.

"We're delighted to now be in a position to assist with translocations from our own kākā population" says ZEALANDIA Lead Ranger of Conservation Matu Booth.

"Transfers such as this will increase the size and genetic diversity of the Cape Sanctuary’s kākā population, thereby ensuring a stronger, healthier population."

The juveniles will be transferred to Cape Sanctuary within a day of capture, spending their first few months in an aviary to help them acclimatise and have extra support over the winter. In spring they will be released into a 2500 hectare protected peninsula at the Cape Sanctuary where they are expected to breed and flourish.

Wellington's kākā population has risen steadily since their reintroduction into ZEALANDIA in 2002, with the 700th locally bred kākā banded late last year.

Cape Sanctuary is a wildlife restoration project established in 2006 by landowners of the Cape Kidnappers peninsula. It is the largest privately owned restoration project of its kind in New Zealand.

Since Cape Sanctuary’s fence was completed in 2007 they have reintroduced a number of rare and indigenous New Zealand wildlife such as tomtit, rifleman, robin and brown kiwi.

ENDS

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