Loony Tune
Fri, 24 Sep 2010 11:38 am – Posted by Mandy | 4 Comments
Blogger: Campaign Manager for the kea, Tiff Stewart
It’s hard to understand why anyone’d consider any of the other birds.
Kea, Photo: Andrew Walmsley
The kea have it all – attitude, physical prowess, grace, style, strength, stamina, curiosity, brains. And to top that off, they spend their lives playing! What more recommendation is there? A kea’s day is taken up with soaring over pristine snow-fields, executing dare-devil stunts above lofty mountain peaks, checking out the taste of the tyres of new 4WDs, and playing rough-house with one another.
And they’re great comedians. Everyone who’s spent time in the mountains has a kea story. It’s as if they show up when you’re tired just to give you a laugh, a flash of that glorious underwing, and grab a couple of your sammys.
Who wouldn’t want to end every day relaxing in an alpine meadow, with a handful of friends and family, and a glorious view of nature’s finest playground spread before them?
Kea really do exemplify the ultimate thrill-seekers life style. A vote for the kea is a vote for freeeeedom!
Absolutely! Kea are a one of our most fascinating birds! With only 1000 – 5000 remaining in the wild, they need everyones support! If you would like to find out more about kea, please visit the Kea Conservation Trusts website (www.keaconservation.co.nz) and contact us to be added to our bi-monthly updates.
So if they are a bird that epitomises freedom, why on earth do we allow any of them to be kept locked up in captivity. It is a disgrace yet I have seen far too many kea living out their remaining days (and that is usually a lot of days) locked up in a horrible wire netting cage. Their beaks grow long. They pace back and forth in their horrible prisons. Where is their freedom to fly the wild Southern Alps now?
Locking up kea should be outlawed and morally shunned just as much as holding dolphins in captivity.
Can anyone please help us with a wall of kea shame…all those aviarys that have captive kea?
Waimate Gardens Aviary
Does the Auckland Zoo or Christchurch’s Orana Park or Willowbank or the Wellington Zoo have captive kea?
It’s all very well and good to say keep our wildlife wild, isn’t that what we all strive for? – but it’s not always ideal and it’s unfair to tar all aviaries with the same brush.
Consider those playing a vital role in conservation of ‘wild’ places, such as the Dunedin Botanic Gardens and their work with the Orokonui Ecosanctuary?