Auckland Zoo's injured Kakapo ready to return to the wild

Auckland Zoo senior vet Richard Jakob-Hoff's arm is a handy perch for kakapo chick Hananui 2. Photo Brett PhibbsA very special New Zealand chick, Hananui Two, is just one of 124 Kakapo left.

She has been in hospital at Auckland Zoo for over a month, but is now finally healthy enough to return home to Codfish Island.

Enticing her to come out and play is easy – the five-month-old is a sucker for affection.

Auckland Zoo senior veterinarian Richard Jakob-Hoff is her doting surrogate parent – he has even learnt to imitate the sound Hananui’s mother makes.

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Poisoned kaka back in the bush

HOME AGAIN: Zealandia's Raewyn Empson and zoo vet Janelle Ward free the young kaka. By ROBERT KITCHIN/ The Dominion PostA young kaka found paralysed and near death in a Wellington gutter has been nursed back to health and returned to the wild.

The gravely ill young female from Zealandia Karori Wildlife Sanctuary was found in a Kelburn gutter about a fortnight ago by two passers-by, who took her to a local vet.

The kaka was taken to the animal hospital at Wellington Zoo where she showed signs of neurological damage but no obvious injuries.

"From the clinical signs we suspected a heavy metal poisoning and she responded very well to our treatment," zoo vet Janelle Ward said.

Subsequent blood tests indicated raised zinc levels and it was assumed she had suffered zinc poisoning.

"Luckily, the X-rays showed she did not have any metal fragments in her intestinal tract."

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Morawa man convicted of black cockatoo possession

ILLEGALS: A Morawa man fined $4500 for illegal possession of black cockatoos.A MORAWA man has been fined $4500 following the discovery of 14 red-tailed and white-tailed black cockatoos in cages at his Wheatbelt home.

Herbert Edward Kenyon, 59, pleaded guilty in the Geraldton Magistrates Court to unlawful possession of three Carnaby’s white-tailed black cockatoo chicks and 11 red-tailed black cockatoo chicks and adults.

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Parrots of the Caribbean

Rowan Martin gets ready to measure a yellow-shouldered parrot chick as part of an effort to protect the imperiled species. Photo: Kim HubbardIf you have heard of Bonaire at all, you may think of it as a haven for scuba divers or, maybe, loggerhead turtles. But this tiny island might also offer the best chance of survival for the yellow-shouldered Amazon parrot.

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Vic company fined for tree clearing

Red-tailed Black Cockatoo. Image by AndyVictorian food producer Rocky Lamattina and Sons has been fined more than $220,000 for breaching national environmental laws in South Australia.

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