Keas in North American Institutions

Yi Qi

Yi Qi

Well-Known Member
How many zoos in North America keep keas? I'm currently making a list of institutes which keep them, which I will update with feedback. I decided to make this list after I had an idea for a New Zealand-themed exhibit.

Canada
  • Edmonton Valley Zoo
USA
  • Bronx Zoo
  • Cincinnati Zoo
  • Franklin Park Zoo
  • Philadelphia Zoo
  • Sedgwick County Zoo
  • Tracy Aviary
  • Trevor Zoo
  • Woodland Park Zoo
 
Bronx appears to no longer exhibit the species. Does anyone know what happened to them?
I think Trevor has only one kea.
 
Fun fact, at Valley Zoo, Newton and Rondo are two of the most genetically valuable males in the SSP. Also "Marie's" actual name is Maria.
 
Denver keeps the species.
 
The one from the Bronx was sent to Cincinnati, I think? Somewhere in Ohio, at least.
If Philly has one, it isn't on display, I've never heard of them having the species.
 
Bronx imported a pair from Walsrode, but I think the male died. Their remaining animal was sent to Tracy Aviary to be paired with another bird coming from another zoo.

~Thylo
 
ThylacineAlive said:
Bronx imported a pair from Walsrode, but I think the male died. Their remaining animal was sent to Tracy Aviary to be paired with another bird coming from another zoo.

~Thylo
Click to expand...

I guess I was a little off on remembering it as ohio :p
 
If @Yi Qi allows it, I think we should reactivate this thread.

This is some of the information I found out to update the thread:

Tracy Aviary apparently holds 3.1 Keas:

1.0 Gonzo 00-00-2014
1.0 Steve Austin (Hatched at Cincinnati Zoo)
0.1 Scarlet hatched February 8th, 2017 (Denver Zoo, Anna x Sorento)
1.0 Milford 00-00-2018 (Hatched at Cincinnati Zoo)

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo holds 2.0 Keas:

1.0 Takaro
1.0 Roy

Sedgwick County Zoo holds 1.1 Keas:

1.0 Arthur (hatched at Cincinnati Zoo)
0.1 Ikaroa 00-00-2014 (hatched at Vogeltpark Walsrode, lived at Bronx Zoo, moved to Tracy Aviary and then to Sedgwick)
 
Current U.S. Kea (Nestor notabilis) Population:

Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden - Cincinnati, Ohio (Total: 4.5)
  • 0.1 Kirri 4/12/2009 (Squint x SB ID 126)
  • 1.0 Newt Scamander 6/9/2011 (Borrego x Amanti)
  • 0.1 Marie Curie 4/5/2016 (Antonio x Stella)
  • 0.1 Scarlet 2/8/2017 (Sorento x Anna)
  • 1.0 Gordon 4/25/2019 (Jack x Stella)
  • 0.1 Nancy 1/21/2022 (Jack x Chia)
  • 1.0 Ernest 1/25/2022 (Jack x Chia)
  • 0.1 Jackson 3/12/2023 (Jack x Chia)
  • 1.0 Withers 5/3/2023 (Jack x Chia)
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo - Cleveland, Ohio (Total: 1.1)
  • 0.1 Callie 1/1/1999 (UND x SB ID 108)
  • 1.0 Roy 1/8/2011 (Squint x SB ID 126)
Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance - Denver, Colorado (Total: 2.2)
  • 0.1 Ana 3/30/2006 (Mahoihoi x Mom)
  • 0.1 Chia 2/24/2007 (Squint x SB ID 126)
  • 1.0 McGyver 2/12/2015 (Nestor x Ivy)
  • 1.0 Newton 2/12/2015 (Nestor x Ivy)
Franklin Park Zoo - Boston, Massachusetts (Total: 2.1)
  • 0.1 Jade 1/1/1999 (UND x SB ID 108)
  • 1.0 Sorento 12/28/2004 (Squint x SB ID 98)
  • 1.0 Toa 4/13/2009 (Squint x SB ID 126)
Natural Encounters, Inc. - Winter Haven, Florida (Total: 1.2)
  • 1.0 Kirk 7/6/2001 (Mahoihoi x Mom)
  • 0.1 Roz 4/10/2021 (Jack x Chia)
  • 0.1 Sheppard 3/8/2022 (Jack x Chia)
Sedgwick County Zoo - Wichita, Kansas (Total: 1.1)
  • 0.1 Ikaroa 4/9/2014 (Import from Weltvogelpark Walsrode)
  • 1.0 Arthur 3/23/2016 (Nestor x Ivy)
Tracy Aviary at Liberty Park - Salt Lake City, Utah (Total: 2.3)
  • 1.0 Steve Austin 4/3/2017 (Jack x Stella)
  • 0.1 Ora 3/26/2021 (Sorento x Anna)
  • 0.1 Ruthie 4/7/2021 (Jack x Chia)
  • 1.0 Tahi 4/21/2021 (Arthur x Ikaroa)
  • 0.1 Dame Cooper 3/5/2022 (Jack x Chia)
Trevor Zoo at Millbrook School - Millbrook, New York (Total: 1.1)
  • 0.1 Bad Penny 3/15/2001 (Ha-Tupatu x Kura-Ngaituku)
  • 1.0 Admiral Ackbar 3/26/2014 (Antonio x Kiwi)
Woodland Park Zoo - Seattle, Washington (Total: 3.1)
  • 1.0 Squint Unknown Hatch Date (Import from Wellington Zoo)
  • 1.0 Mahoihoi 8/23/1983 (Import from Ti Point Reptile Park)
  • 1.0 Jean Luc 1/23/1994 (Fred x SB ID 25)
  • 0.1 Teptep 5/10/2007 (Mahoihoi x Mom)
TOTAL U.S. POPULATION: 17.17

Former U.S. Holders:
  • Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens - Los Angeles, California
  • San Diego Zoo - San Diego, California
  • San Diego Zoo Safari Park - Escondido, California
  • Cheyenne Mountain Zoo - Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo - Bridgeport, Connecticut
  • Honolulu Zoo - Honolulu, Hawaii
  • Brookfield Zoo Chicago - Chicago, Illinois
  • Lincoln Park Zoo - Chicago, Illinois
  • The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore - Baltimore, Maryland
  • Stone Zoo - Stoneham, Massachusetts
  • Saint Louis Zoological Park - St. Louis, Missouri
  • Buffalo Zoo - Buffalo, New York
  • Central Park Zoo - New York City, New York
  • Bronx Zoo - New York City, New York
  • Philadelphia Zoo - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • Dallas Zoo - Dallas, Texas
  • San Antonio Zoo - San Antonio, Texas
 
When did Beardsley keep Kea? Not a former holding I've heard of before so that's really interesting to me.

~Thylo
 
Disney’s Animal Kingdom should have at least one kea ambassador in their bird show; although, I have limited knowledge as to who the individual is and where they came from.
 
Last edited:
Austin the Sengi said:
Disney’s Animal Kingdom should have at least one kea ambassador in their bird show; although, I have limited knowledge as to who the individual is and where they came from.
Click to expand...
I believe the individual you may be referencing is 1.0 Ike. Ike had a long transfer history (including being the male who lived at Beardsley for a short time). Ike transferred to Natural Encounters, Inc. where they trained him to be an animal ambassador. The facility is known to loan ambassador birds to other facilities which is why Disney may have had him for some time. Last I know of this bird was that he was transferred to Cincinnati Zoo in 2019 where he passed away in December 2023.

To my knowledge Disney's Animal Kingdom does not currently keep Keas unless another one has recently been sent on loan by Natural Encounters, Inc.
 
Well, the kea I’m referring to is a bird that I first saw this past April (2024). So if it’s not Ike, then who is?
 
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