Kea almost ready to go home after hospitalisation for shot leg

RNZ News

7 hours ago

A kea shot in the leg with a lead-based bullet in February is making a speeding recovery after being admitted to the Massey University Wildbase Hospital in Palmerston North.
Photo:
Supplied / Massey Universities Wildbase Hospital
A kea that suffered a leg fracture after being shot has made an almost complete recovery, and vets have started plans for him head back home to the South Island.
The injured bird was discovered with a severely infected left leg injury at Ligar Bay, near Tākaka in February after it was spotted walking with a limp.
The bird was picked up by a Kea Conservation Trust worker.
He was then flown to Wellington, before the Department of Conservation drove the bird to Massey University's Wildbase Hospital in Palmerston North which provides care to sick and injured native animals.
The kea underwent several tests at the wildlife hospital - including radiographs and a CT scan - which showed an injury on the bird's leg caused by a lead-based bullet and left an open wound on his foot.
Avian and wildlife veterinarian, Dr Megan Jolly, said the bird had likely got the injuries over the month prior to being found, and it quickly became apparent the bird's injuries stemmed from a gunshot wound.
"There were fragments of the bullet still in the surrounding bone," Jolly said.
She said vets also noticed an issue with his respiratory system, known as airsacculitis, which had caused breathing difficulties.
Jolly said kea were known to develop stress-related health issues.
She said throughout the kea's rehabilitation, it was a priority to keep him calm.
"We do all the things we can to reduce his stress, we give him as much space as we can - he's had his own room in the hospital for months."
"Being a kea, he likes to destroy stuff, so we give him lots of... native timbers and things to chew up and keep him as entertained as we can."
Next steps in the rehabilitation process have included a move from Wildbase Hospital into the Central Energy Trust Wildbase Recovery - a transition aviary designed for native animals to regain strength after hospital treatment.
"He'll be down there getting used to being outside, flying around again, and then we'll start to make a plan to get him back down South," Jolly said.
Ash Murphy from the Department of Conservation (DOC) said while it's unknown if the kea was shot deliberately, there were previous incidents in Golden Bay where kea were shot and killed - and it took harming kea seriously.
"Kea are protected under the Wildlife Act and the offence of hunting or killing kea carries a maximum penalty of up to two years' imprisonment or a fine of up to $100,000, or both," Murphy said.
"Kea are a taonga species found in South Island alpine and forest areas. They are endangered in large part due to predators like stoats and feral cats. We need to do all we can to protect and live alongside them."
She acknowledged the role of the Wildbase Hospital in the successful rehabilitation of the kea.
Murphy encouraged anyone with information about the incident or other kea related incidents or injuries should call DOC's 24-hour hotline - 0800 DOC HOT.
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