Care urged as f ifth kea killed on road
Arthur’s Pass conservationists are urging travellers to keep an eye out for kea after a fifth bird was fatally hit by a car in the South Island alpine village this year.
The kea, known as Ronan – named after a local Department of Conservation (DOC) ranger – died last Tuesday after being found injured on the road.
Kea, a taonga species for Ngāi Tahu found throughout South Island mountains and forests, are considered nationally endangered, and DOC estimates between 1000 and 5000 birds remain.
A DOC spokesperson said the bird was paralysed as a result of vehicle strike, able to move only its head. A ranger euthanised the parrot after consultation with the South Island Wildlife Hospital.Kea Conservation Trust community engagement co-ordinator Renée Habluetzel said kea were ‘‘everywhere’’ in the village at the moment, as younger birds took advantage of the warm weather to get out and have some fun.
‘‘They’re wonderfully entertaining, people are loving it.’’
But it was also a worrying time, as tourists started to flock back to the town, she said.
When she went down into the village on Wednesday there were three large tour buses lined up, and kea all over the road. ‘‘They were driving kea onto the road while they’re taking photos.’’
Habluetzel said she had to shepherd the birds to safety.
She encouraged visitors to take their food scraps and dishes back inside once they were done. She said it was also important not to feed kea, which attracted birds closer to the road.
‘‘If you’re going to take photos of kea . . . don’t pursue them. Turn away from the road [towards
the bush], so they’ve got somewhere to go. Just protect them.’’ Habluetzel also urged people driving through the village to stick to the 50kph speed limit, to safeguard kea and people crossing the road.
Habluetzel said DOC rangers were doing excellent work, but could use more resourcing and support.
A DOC spokesperson said as much as people loved to see the birds in Arthur’s Pass, it was a high-risk place for them.
‘‘We would love it if people can be aware that kea are playing and flying around the highway at all hours, particularly in the centre of Arthur’s Pass. They are regularly run over, or die from lead poisoning from roof flashing or tyre weights that they like to chew on.’’