See a kakapo - the world's rarest parrot

Photo: DOC ONCE IN A LIFETIME: Sirocco the kakapo will be appearing at Auckland Zoo to celebrate Conservation Week.Don’t miss chance to see a kakapo – the world’s rarest parrot

Aucklanders and visitors to Auckland are being offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet the world’s rarest parrot when kakapo Sirocco visits Auckland Zoo next week in celebration of Conservation Week.

The Department of Conservation (DOC) and its Southern Islands Area kakapo team have joined forces with the zoo to create a unique evening experience from 14 – 23 September (6pm – 9pm) so that people can “get involved” and experience this nocturnal national treasure – one of only 124 kakapo in the world.

“Sirocco is one very special kakapo, and something of a conservation superstar. He had to be hand-raised as a chick, and through this developed a preference for human rather than kakapo company. His love of people has seen him become an important advocate for his species, and has enabled DOC to help tell the story of one of New Zealand’s greatest conservation challenges.

His visit is our way of celebrating the thousands of hours that volunteers, rangers, vets, scientists and sponsors have put into maximising the survival chances of kakapo over the last 30 years,” says DOC spokesperson Nic Vallance.

Sirocco, who has charmed the likes of famous English actor Stephen Fry with his gregarious personality, recently moved back home to Whenua Hou or Codfish Island after spending the summer on Pearl Island, south east of Stewart Island.

“After so many years of protecting kakapo on nature reserves in order to conserve the species it’s very exciting to be able to offer Kiwis this unique opportunity. We expect Sirocco will be his usual inquisitive and interactive self, but this will be a new experience for him so exactly how he’ll respond is still a bit of an unknown. We’d just ask visitors to be mindful how this may affect him and that we always need to put his welfare first,” says DOC’s kakapo recovery team leader Deidre Vercoe.

Auckland Zoo, which provides veterinary support to the kakapo recovery team, and partners with DOC in many native species recovery programmes, is proud to be hosting this avian VIP.

“We’re delighted to be joining with DOC to offer zoo visitors a rare opportunity to see this extraordinary bird. Just 30 years ago, the kakapo was on the brink of extinction. Now numbers continue to grow as a result of the incredible efforts of the kakapo recovery team. We hope that the experience will inspire everyone to get involved and play a part in protecting all our unique native wildlife,” says Auckland Zoo director, Jonathan Wilcken

Along with guided tours to meet Sirocco, the 14 – 23 September evenings offer the opportunity to view screenings about kakapo and other native species that the zoo and DOC are involved in helping. There will be interactive displays, talks by rangers, vets and keepers, and the chance to chat with DOC and zoo staff involved in caring for kakapo and other national treasures, and to find out about ways to “get involved” in conservation activities. From 5.30pm, there will also be great dinner and beverage options available to purchase in the zoo’s entry plaza, including hangi-style vegetables and gourmet Kiwi barbecue food.

Tickets are limited to these evenings (conditions apply and are detailed at www.aucklandzoo.co.nz/kakapo ). Pre-purchasing of tickets is essential. Tickets (allocated for specific tour times) are $20 for adults, $10 for children (aged 4 – 15 years) or $50 for a family (2 adults, 2 children). To pre-purchase tickets phone the Auckland Zoo Information Centre (09) 360 3805. For further details about Sirocco and his visit, www.aucklandzoo.co.nz; www.doc.govt.nz, www.kakaporecovery.org.nz and www.conservationweek.org.nz

Kakapo Fast Facts

• The kakapo is the rarest, heaviest and only nocturnal parrot in the world, and is endemic to New Zealand. It was once one of our most common birds – found throughout our three main islands. Today it is confined to Codfish Island (Whenua Hou) Island and Anchor Island.

• Kakapo is Maori for ‘parrot of the night’.

• Hunting, habitat destruction, and introduced predators brought the species to the edge of extinction

• In 1995, kakapo numbers declined to just 50 birds. With 33 healthy chicks born in the 2009 breeding season, the kakapo population has increased to 124 birds.

• The kakapo is the only parrot in the world to have a ‘lek’ mating system – which involves the male attracting females by his booming call. Males create elaborate track and bowl systems in the scrub, and call from the ‘bowls’ to help transmit the sound of the low ‘boom’ they make.

• A male kakapo’s booming call can be heard up to 5km away. One was recorded making 17,000 booms in one night!

• Kakapo only breed every three to four years, and breeding is dependent on the masting (fruiting) of the rimu tree. The rimu tree’s berries are the chosen food parents feed their chicks

• Kakapo are herbivores and eat a variety of roots, leaves and fruit.