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Enriching the lives of captive animals is an extremely important part of good husbandry. This page will look at what enrichment is and why it is important for kea. We will also provide information on what types of enrichment can be used and why.
What is Enrichment?
Willowbank kea enjoying some social and
occupational enrichment
Photo credit: Rachel Johnson
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Why Do Kea Need Enrichment?
Stereotypies - repetitive behaviours which appear to have no obvious goal or function (Mason, 1990) - have long been used as welfare indicators, and as they are not seen to be exhibited within wild animal populations, their development has been linked to sub-optimal captive environments which discourage expression of natural species specific behaviours (ibid).
One method of preventing and reversing the performance of stereotypies is with appropriate environmental modification (Meehan et al, 2004). Five types of environmental enrichment have been identified and include social, occupational, physical, sensory and nutritional enrichment (Bloomsmith et al cited in Young, 2003). Nutritional enrichment is often introduced via different modes of delivery (which includes variation in frequency and presentation), and type (eg. browse and treats) (Young, 2003), and is widely used in captive facilities to increase foraging and investigative behaviours. These behaviours have been shown to decrease stereotypic behaviours (Croke, 1997).
Research on kea behaviour in NZ facilities (Orr-Walker 2005) showed a high prevalence of stereotypies performed by captive kea (50% of individuals observed over 13 facilities).
As any degree of stereotypic performance has been linked with a deficit in the captive environment (Mason, 1991), it may be concluded that there are potential welfare issues in the holding of this species in captivity that have not yet been identified and managed appropriately.
Kea are considered to be highly intelligent (Gadjon, ) and have developed to survive in a complex environment. They fall into the category of a high priority species as described by Kreger et al (1998) and as such are considered to require high levels of complexity and novelty in their environments to prevent performance of stereotypies.
Any enrichment programmes must be highly variable, evolving and adaptable and encompass the keas physiological, psychological and social requirements.
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Types of Enrichment
Behavioural enrichment should be rotated on an ad lib, non cyclic system and provide on a daily basis. Setting up a rigid timetable for a highly intelligent species is counter intuitive to the concept of enrichment – ie it must be unpredictable.
A list of enrichment types and items should be available to holders for reference. A combination of two or three items should be picked out at random from each type on a daily basis so that birds do not end up with predictable regimes. If there is repetition of one or two enrichment items on subsequent days that is part of the unpredictability.
BE is only limited by your imagination – get everyone to suggest ideas. The more people involved in this the better.
Basic enrichment list incorporating the five types of enrichment (please note that social enrichment in the activities section only relates to cooperative BE and not changing of social groupings).
Nutritional:
- Different browse/food types (native browse species, nectar (jam/honey water mix), grass, vegetables/fruit/ iceblocks), presented in multiple ways (eg hole in a pumpkin stuffed with nuts etc))
Physical/ Sensory:
- Smell (herbs/spices, keepers t-shirts, bedding from other species enclosures (not avian), perfume);
- Taste (herbs/spices, honey, jam smeared on branches, drop of essence in water (rose, vanilla, honey, lemon etc);
- Visual (mirrors, cut out objects (eg kea model, hawk, cat etc), lights (bomb proof torch, different coloured objects);
- Tactile (big clump of straw, smooth surfaces (metal plate), thick rubber mat or ball (watch they don’t ingest it), non toxic coloured wax (not white) or clay they can manipulate etc);
- Auditory (play other kea calls, music, etc)
Sensory (tactile) enrichment: Auckland Zoo kea in snow - 2002
Occupational:
- Puzzles to manipulate (requires cognitive abilities)
- Large Hessian sack or large paper rubbish bag filled with other enrichment items (birds can make holes in sacks and pull items through – large enough for several birds to have a go at once);
Social (those items which require cooperation or interaction from other kea, members of the public or keepers):
- Puzzles requiring cooperation
- Kea love to watch keepers pulling something to bits too
- Training sessions would also fit into this – must be fun and positive
- Interacting with the public - walkthrough aviaries are fun for everyone!
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Enrichment Ideas
Todd Jenkinson, previously the senior natives keeper at Auckland Zoo, initiated the zoos Kea Enrichment manual. This provides basic ideas on behavioural enrichment tools.
This document should be considered only one of many tools needed in the enrichment box for kea. It must be remembered that as kea are highly intelligent, enrichment must be highly adaptive, fluid and complex to ensure that kea do not develop stereotypic behaviours or abnormally long periods of inactivity.
 Auckland Zoo Kea Enrichment Manual
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Kea Information 
