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<\/p>\nComment: After more than 70 years of regional extinction, k\u0101k\u0101 have burst back into the Wellington landscape. With their prehistoric \u201cskraaking\u201d call, raucous behaviour, and beautiful plumage, this boisterous bush parrot has won the hearts of many residents and become a much-loved poster child for Wellington\u2019s conservation success. \u00a0<\/p>\n
The city\u2019s original k\u0101k\u0101 were destroyed by the landscape impacts of colonisation \u2013 habitat loss and predation from introduced species meant numbers collapsed. Their recovery began in 2002 when six birds were released into the Zealandia ecosanctuary, establishing a founding population that has thrived.<\/p>\n
The progeny of this population now spills far beyond the Zealandia fence-line, supported by city-wide pest control programmes.<\/p>\n
Yet despite their current popularity, k\u0101k\u0101 dispersal into the city hasn\u2019t always been smooth sailing.<\/p>\n
Equipped with sharp beaks and a taste for sap, their practice of stripping bark from trees has proved deadly for a number of the city\u2019s tree species. Many mature conifers, including the Wellington Botanic Garden\u2019s widely loved redwoods, have had to be removed. K\u0101k\u0101 are also given to other beaky escapades, damaging decks and other property.<\/p>\n
In the years after their release, this behaviour sparked a flood of complaints to Zealandia and the council. A Zealandia staff member at the time recalled that just about every other phone call was a complaint about k\u0101k\u0101 damage, prompting concern that public opinion might turn against the birds and the conservation efforts supporting them.<\/p>\n
Attempts to dissuade the birds from damaging trees failed. One arborist remembered trying to scare the birds with air horns: \u201cFirst time with an air horn, it was so loud I had to wear earmuffs and the bird took off. Second time, it just looked at me and was like, \u2018What are you doing?\u2019 They\u2019re such intelligent birds \u2026 it didn\u2019t work again.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite dire warnings from some conservation experts, the widescale anti-k\u0101k\u0101 pushback failed to materialise.<\/p>\n
In fact, k\u0101k\u0101 have risen in popularity even as their deadly impact on beloved city trees has become more noticeable. Although there are still some complaints about k\u0101k\u0101, there seems to have been a substantial shift in opinion from concern, uncertainty, and in some cases outright hostility, to celebration.<\/p>\n
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