Kea overcomes bad break to roam again

Two months after being rescued from a forestry site with a broken leg, Pere the cheeky kea is back in the wild.

Pere was one of the two kea chicks found in a disused culvert at a skid site in the Pearse Valley, near Motueka, by a crew from Moutere Logging last December.

But two months ago a logger found him in the same area with a broken leg and he was taken to Nelson's Natureland zoo for intensive rehabilitation.

Natureland keeper Matt Fraser said the recovery began by restraining Pere's physical movement so the break could heal, while also keeping the young, naturally curious kea mentally stimulated.

Following rest, physical activity was encouraged to build up Pere's flight muscles.

Fraser was among the team who released Pere back to the Pearse Valley this week, which he described as a "really cool feeling". After a few minutes readjustment, the young bird was back to exploring the skid site. 

Logger Kurt Malham, who found the injured bird, was also present as Pere returned to the wild. 

Malham has pushed to get forestry companies to look out for kea and have a greater focus on conservation within work practices.

"There is so much ignorance towards kea and they are an endangered species, yes they can cause a lot of damage but we are working in their territory and we need to make sure we are protecting them," Malham said.

"I hear a lot of people saying that the only good kea is a dead kea and I want to change that belief."

He has named the kea after members of his logging team to help personalise them "and the crew start to take a bit of interest."

Kea, the only alpine parrot in the world, are known for their destructive behaviours due to their intelligence and inquisitive natures. Kea can cause thousands of dollars worth of damage to equipment and there is often ill feeling towards them.

Natureland Wildlife Trust director Meg Rutledge praised Malham, Tasman Pine Ltd and Nelson Forests Ltd for taking a proactive approach in supporting kea at their sites.

"All it takes is one passionate person like Kurt who is pushing his company to be more friendly towards kea to make a huge difference.

"We could have an actual conservation outcome through this. The top of the south should be really proud of the forestry companies and workers like Kurt."

Pere was fitted with a radio transmitter which will be monitored by DOC, Natureland and the forestry crew to track him and provide valuable data on where the kea at forestry sites are travelling.