As many as 145 whales have died after being found stranded on a remote beach in New Zealand, conservation officials said Monday. Two pods of pilot whales were discovered just over a mile apart on Mason Bay, Stewart Island, a sparsely populated island in the country’s south. Authorities were first alerted to the mass stranding […]
Tag: new zealand
‘Mate, what just happened?’ Seal slaps kayaker in face with octopus
A kayaker paddling in the waters around New Zealand has been given an unusually close look at its marine life when a seal appeared to throw an octopus at him. Kyle Mulinder was enjoying a clear day on waters off the coast of Kaikōura in the South Island when he was slapped in the face […]
Why Is New Zealand Releasing a Rabbit-Killing Virus?
Wild rabbits are considered pests in New Zealand, and they reportedly cause substantial damage to pastoral land. The country has now decided to release a virus to cull rabbits, but environmentalists warn that this is a serious mistake. In late February, officials agreed to release the virus — known as rabbit hemorrhagic virus disease, or […]
Beak fitness: New Zealand develops roadside gym for endangered keas
Bird experts in New Zealand have designed a special gym for the country’s playful alpine parrot to keep them away from some of the nation’s most dangerous roads. For the last couple of years contractors working on the road to Milford Sound in the South Island have captured footage of keas moving their road cones […]
The hunt for the world’s only alpine (and carnivorous) parrot
You need to be sneaky if you want to catch a Kea in the wild. Kimberley Collins (Forest & Bird, BirdLife in New Zealand) goes searching for the world’s only alpine parrot in Nelson Lakes National Park, New Zealand. As I looked up at the 1300m peak looming over me, I instantly regretted not preparing […]
New Zealand kea, the world’s only alpine parrot, faces extinction
The world’s only alpine parrot is at threat of extinction in New Zealand as numbers plummet in the face of threats from non-native predators and human development. The kea is the world’s only mountain-dwelling parrot and also one of the most intelligent species of bird known for their playfulness and novelty-seeking nature. The birds, which […]
Baby killer whale fights for life in New Zealand harbour
A baby orca separated from its mother and pod for two weeks is slowly dying in a New Zealand harbour, despite a taskforce being set up to try and save it. The orca – nicknamed “Bob” by locals – was separated from its pod two weeks ago and has been swimming in the waters of […]
POLL: Should invasive animal predators be wiped out?
For the first time in history, New Zealand has announced an ambitious initiative to eliminate rats, stoats, and possums from the country by 2050, in an effort to rid the country of an ecological scourge ravaging its native wildlife. “New Zealand’s unique native creatures and plants are central to our national identity,” said New Zealand […]
