Junior

Key Details: Alive (Sub-Adult), Female, V-4034
Area: Waimakariri
Band Combo: White DP on Red

Probably a Female Sub-Adult kea — Photo by Greg Boreham

Junior the tiny female kea has an interesting story to tell! She was found living in a ski building at Temple Basin Ski area near Arthur’s Pass for several weeks and proved quite difficult to catch and release. Local wildlife champion Nic ventured up there numerous times until he finally managed to woo her in and take her to the wonderful team at the South Island Wildlife Hospital in Christchurch for assessment. Becoming affectionately known to the team as ‘Junior’, this name stuck with her and she spent several weeks in their care, alongside Bia (the adult female kea with the damaged toe) and McSweedford (who died in January 2023 as a result of severe infection associated with his injuries). Junior and Bia were released from the Wildlife Hospital together and are now free to roam the Bealey Valley and surrounds. If you see them and their mates, please report them here at the kea sightings database!

Junior

Observations

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