Education of Zoo Visitors and Advocacy of Kea - Kea Conservation ...

Due to their reputation as sheep killers, full protection for Kea was not awarded until
1986 under the Wildlife Act (1953) (ibid), under the condition that DOC agreed to
investigate any incidence of attacks on sheep. It is now known only a few rogue birds
attack live sheep but prejudices persist (Pullar 1996). Grant (1993) states some High
Country farmers believe Kea cause high stock loses, however the proportion of sheep
mortality in which these birds are often the scapegoats, may be due to other factors
such as accident, lack of vaccination, disease or starvation.
Kea are highly intelligent and curious nature, adaptations which have which have
allowed these birds to survive in the harshest of environments (Johnstone 2001),
(Temple 1996), (Diamond & Bond 2004), (Huber et al 2001), these traits have
brought them into conflict with humans within their natural range (Morris & Morris
2002), (Peat 1995). When investigating resources they use a stout and agile bill
together with feet, which can grasp and pull (Peat 1995). There are a number of areas
in which Kea are seen as a problem to humans, they can be regularly found around
rubbish dumps, ski lodges and car parks as well as back country huts where they have
been known to damage human property (ibid). Discarded food or intentional feeding
and their investigative nature have encouraged the birds to these areas (ibid). They are
particularly well known to attack anything soft on vehicles left unattended in their
habitat, birds have been known to remove the rubber window seals around
windscreens, and if they have gained access, the interior suffers widespread damage
(Peat 1995).
Published research is limited on advocacy of Kea, but the subject has produced two
documents (Grant 1993 & Peat 1995) by Department of Conservation.
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