North Canterbury News: October 26, 2023

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NEWS
16 North Canterbury News, October 26, 2023
Lifeline for kākā riki
By SHELLEY TOPP
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SCAN ME
New Zealand'srarest parakeet, which
has ‘‘a stronghold’’ in Hurunui, has
been thrown another lifeline to save it
from extinction.
The Brook Waimārama Sanctuary in
Nelson is involved in arecovery
programme for the kākāriki karaka /
orange­fronted parakeet, but now the
wildlife reserve’s chief executive Ru
Collin has taken on another role to help
the bird by becomingits campaign
manager for Forest and Bird’s Bird of
the Century competition.
However, with 74 other bird species
vyingfor the title competition is
expected to be fierce.
Although kākāriki karaka were once
commonplace throughout New
Zealand, the parakeet now has a
‘‘threatened­nationally critical’’
conservation status with only 300 to 450
adult birds thought to remain in the
wild.
Ru and his staff are preparing for a
big open day at the sanctuary this
Sunday (October 29) when visitors will
be encouraged to vote for the kākāriki
karaka in the Bird of the Century
competition.
DepartmentofConservation (DOC)
kākāriki karaka operationsmanager
Wayne Beggs said DOC and Te
Rūnanga oNgāiTahu were leading the
kākāriki karaka recovery programme
but they are working closely withthe
Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust,
Orana Wildlife Park and the Brook
Waimārama Sanctuary. Canterbury
University, MainPower, RealNZ, and
NZ Nature Fund also support the work.
‘‘The programme is focused on
monitoringand protectingthose sites
Rare beauty ... an Orange­fronted
parakeet / kākāriki karaka, which has a
threatened­nationally critical conservation
status.
PHOTO: SUPPLIED
where kākāriki karaka are found,
breeding birds in captivity to release
into the wild, research, and finding
safe new sites where the species can be
introduced,’’ Wayne said.
‘‘In Canterbury, there are kākāriki
karaka populations in the Hurunui
South Branch (Lake Sumner (Hoka
Kura) Forest Park) and Hawdon Valley
(Arthur’s Pass National Park),’’ he said.
‘‘The Hurunui South Branch
population was discovered in 1995 and
the valley has been astronghold for the
species ever since.’’
Bird of the Century voting, which
opens at 9am next Monday,October 30,
and closes at 5pm on November 12, can
be done online at the Bird of the Year
website —birdoftheyear.org.nz.
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