Kakapo died of salmonella infection

Hoki A female kakapo on Whenua Hou. Photo:Laura MollesA young female kakapo found dead on Codfish Island died of salmonella – but celebrity Sirocco and the other critically endangered birds should be safe.

Tests have revealed Purity, found dead two weeks ago, died of the infection, the Department of Conservation said.

Kakapo Recovery Programme manager Deirdre Vercoe Scott said it was the first time salmonella had been recorded in kakapo.

DOC was still testing samples from Purity to find out what strain of the bacteria infected her, Ms Vercoe Scott said.

Testing would take about two weeks. Once this was done, DOC would be able to work out how Purity was infected and how salmonella reached Codfish Island.

"At the moment, the most likely cause is probably a new infection brought by birds or people," she said. However, it was possible salmonella had been present on the island for some time.

"I think it's common among birds ... it was quite prevalent in sparrows in the North Island."

Kakapo had always been tested for a range of bugs, including salmonella. The team would survey the island to see how prevalent the bacteria was but there was no need to panic, she said.

"We are not dealing with something sweeping through the population, just a one-off."

World-famous conservation spokesbird Sirocco was not in danger of contracting the infection, she said. His minders must go through stringent quarantine measures before approaching him and he had a sealed dining room, accessed through a cat door to prevent his food becoming contaminated.