Captive Breeding

This page will showcase past and present breeding recommendations, results and photos and video footage of kea chicks.

• Nest camera footage - Hamilton Zoo (2009)
• 2010 Breeding recommendations
• Past breeding recommendations and results

Nest camera footage - Hamilton Zoo kea 2009

Visitors to this page can view video footage of a female kea and her two chicks feeding from their nest at Hamilton Zoo.

One male and one female chick were hatched out at the zoo on the 13th August 2009 and footage recorded via a nest camera. To view this footage you will need to download the following programme:

Spot the kea chick! (Next to the empty eggshell on the right).

Hatched 13th August around 9am!

This has been a collaborative effort between the KCT, Closewatch Ltd, Hamilton Zoo staff and volunteers, Hamilton City Council (HCC) and Unitec.

• Roger Chilcott, Managing Director of Closewatch Ltd in the U.K (www.closewatchcameras.co.uk), very kindly donated high quality camera and recording equipment to the KCT and travelled to New Zealand to install the equipment at Hamilton Zoo.

• Tony Poppleton built the nest box (materials donated by Unitec, NZ) and installation modifications were done by Dave Crouch (Hamilton Zoo).
• The balance of the equipment costs (DVR) was jointly  funded by CMaG: ARAZPA NZ and the KCT.

4th September 9.48pm

Thank you!

Funding received for this project 

• Closewatch Ltd UK(http://www.birdsview.co.uk/index.html)
• CMaG:ARAZPA NZ 2009 - $1000

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2010 Breeding Recommendations

There will be no breeding carried this year throughout New Zealand facilities. As such the nest camera will only be operational to view past footage.

We will keep you posted with the 2011 breeding recommendations.

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Past Breeding Recommendations and Results

2009

The Species Coordinator has specified breeding at the following facilities for the 2009 season as follows:

• Hamilton Zoo - 2 chicks hatched
• Dundedin Botanic Gardens - 0 chicks hatched

2008 

The Species Coordinator has specified breeding at 4 facilities for the 2008-2009 season. These include;

• Hamilton Zoo  - 0 chicks fledged
• Dunedin Botanic Garden - 0 chicks hatched
• Palmerston North City Council - 0 chicks hatched
• Wellington Zoo - 2 chicks fledged

Hamilton and Wellington Zoos were the only facilities to successfully hatch out chicks as follows:

Hamilton Zoo was the first facility to welcome a new kea chick for the 2008 breeding season (the last time Hamilton Zoo bred kea was 15 years ago).

Three eggs were hatched by the pair and, as per captive breeding recommendation, 2 out of 3 eggs were pricked to allow only 1 egg to develop (this allows other pairs with important genetics throughout New Zealand facilities, the opportunity to raise chicks. Pricking eggs stops any development of eggs, is humane and does not stress the adults).

Unfortunately the chick that developed and subsequently hatched, only survived for 11 days. Hamilton Zoo Director, Stephen Standley has stated that a preliminary autopsy report has revealed kidney damage most probably due to a bacterial infection.

Hamilton Zoo kea chick (below) - September 2008

 Wellington Zoo hatched out two male kea chicks during the 2008 breeding season.

The more adventurous of the brothers broke his leg during fledging and is presently in the zoos hospital facility with his leg in plaster!

This male is now at Auckland Zoo.

 2007

Two pairs of kea were given permission to breed for the 2007 season.

Auckland zoos founder male was paired with a young female originally from Brooklyns Zoo (New Plymouth) and 3 fertile eggs resulted. One has since hatched (see photos below). Congratulations to Aucklands Native team.

2007 seasons chick/eggs at Auckland Zoo

(photos courtesy of the Natives Section Auckland Zoo)

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