Auckland Zoo kakapo at Auckland Zoo

Chlidonias

Chlidonias

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older news (from September) but not mentioned here before and definitely worth mentioning:
Superstar kakapo Sirocco on show in Auckland | Stuff.co.nz
Aucklanders have a chance to meet a superstar kakapo parrot, so tame he thinks he's a human.

Twelve-year-old Sirocco was hand-reared because of a lung infection and Auckland Zoo senior vet Dr Richard Jakob-Hoff says because of that he has become relaxed around people.

"He thinks he is a person," says Dr Jakob-Hoff.

Auckland Zoo is hosting evening viewings from today until next Wednesday with Sirocco as part of Conservation Week.

"Sirocco is one very special kakapo, and something of a conservation superstar. He had to be hand-raised as a chick, and through this developed a preference for human rather than kakapo company. His love of people has seen him become an important advocate for his species," says DOC spokesperson Nic Vallance.

She describes him as having a "gregarious personality" and says he has met a few celebrities in his time, charming the likes of English actor Stephen Fry.

Sirocco normally lives on Codfish Island, off Stewart Island and is one of the rarest birds in the world - one of only 124 kakapo in the world.

Sirocco will be appearing in a custom-built viewing area at the zoo.

"After so many years of protecting kakapo on nature reserves in order to conserve the species it's very exciting to be able to offer Kiwis this unique opportunity. We expect Sirocco will be his usual inquisitive and interactive self, but this will be a new experience for him so exactly how he'll respond is still a bit of an unknown," says DOC's kakapo recovery team leader Deidre Vercoe.
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WOW!, a real zoo rarity, what a great idea to exhibit him in the zoo, bring to 100'000,s the plight of these endearing bird to such a wider audience of mainly New Zealanders, and hopefully inspire even 1% of visitors to act in some way to protect and save the kakapo.
Well done Auckland zoo and wildlife authorities!
I saw the last chance to see, programme featuring Sirocco, hilarious!
Thanks for the info Chlidonias.
 
hehe i did like that scene ^^

but sirocco only was in Auckland during the hand rearing stage and abit after that
 
EvilKittie said:
but sirocco only was in Auckland during the hand rearing stage and abit after that
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Sirocco was hand-reared at Auckland Zoo twelve years ago, but he was back at the zoo for advocacy purposes on 14-23 September this year (which is why I started this thread)
 
If I had known about it, I might have made the trip across the ditch.

:(

Hix
 
Chlidonias said:
Sirocco was hand-reared at Auckland Zoo twelve years ago, but he was back at the zoo for advocacy purposes on 14-23 September this year (which is why I started this thread)
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realy :O, i knew he went over, i must of misread you post! sorry man! :)
 
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