23 Sep 2024

Kaka showing signs of severe distress in Dunedin Aviary - vets

From Checkpoint, 4:24 pm on 23 September 2024

A stoush over a single kaka parrot is seriously ruffling feathers. The bird known as Charlie Girl spent almost a quarter of a century at Te Anau Bird Sanctuary, where she fostered chicks, hatching and rearing them for release, she can't return to the wild herself because of a damaged wing.But a few months ago DOC moved Charlie Girl to the Dunedin Botanical Gardens Aviary. Now, five vets have signed a open letter saying the Kaka is showing signs of severe distress, is being bullied by a male bird and should be returned to her old home. Doctor Christina Abramowicz is one of the vets worried about Charlie Girl's health and spoke to Lisa Owen.