Kea yours for $25,000
The cherished kea is clinging to survival, with only a few thousand left in New Zealand.
But for $25,000, collectors can buy one of the cheeky mountain parrots from a Japanese cafe.
Although the kea is internationally recognised as endangered, the sale is perfectly legal. Officials say there is little they can do to stop the trade beyond New Zealand’s borders.
The pet cafe, in Tokyo’s touristy Asakusa area, is part of a popular scene where patrons can kick back with a coffee and snuggle one of their favourite animals.
The craze is aimed at reducing stress and countering a shortage of space for pets at home in the densely packed capital. But animal rights activists continue to oppose the industry.
The coffee shop offers cuddles with sleepy owls. An attached pet shop sells birds of prey, like falcons and hawks, parrots, flamingos, and native Australian birds like kookaburra and galahs. Animals such as skunks and hedgehogs are also listed.
The male kea, aged three years, is one of the most expensive birds in the online catalogue at 1,800,000¥ ($NZ25,524). The priciest is a Griffon vulture, a massive and rare raptor from Europe, at ¥2,800,000 ($39,704).
A sulphur-crested cockatoo, widespread in Australia but with a small introduced population in New Zealand, is offered for ¥1,300,000 ($18,434).
A spokesman for the cafe said the kea was imported as a breeding bird from Europe and would only be sold within Japan.
‘‘He is three years old and is very active and healthy,’’ he said. ‘‘I have nothing else to say. This kea was legally imported from Europe.’’
The large mountain parrots are known for their curiosity and intelligence.
In 2017, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s Red List, the world’s most comprehensive inventory of threatened species, listed kea as endangered.
In New Zealand, they are classified as ‘‘threatened – nationally endangered’’.
Dylan Swain, the Department of Conservation’s principal compliance officer, said there were
‘‘large numbers’’ of kea legally in captivity overseas.
That is because they were exported to zoos and collectors around the world before the bird was given full protection under the Wildlife Act in 1986.
‘‘There are many captive kea overseas and, because they can easily be purchased from legal sources, it’s rare to hear of allegations of smuggled kea,’’ Swain said.
‘‘We’re obviously concerned for the welfare of kea held in captivity overseas. However, they are beyond our jurisdiction.
‘‘There is little we can do other than pass information on to overseas authorities and request they ensure the birds have been legally acquired and their welfare is being taken care of.’’
Swain said DOC had contacted Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) authorities in Japan.
‘‘Kea are popular because they’re beautiful, intelligent birds with cheeky characters; many collectors purchase kea because they love them and, therefore, have an interest in taking good care of them.’’
For biosecurity reasons, it was unlikely that any species of bird purchased privately overseas could be brought into New Zealand, he said.