Willowbank recieved a pair (unsure on sexes) of endangered Takahe today, according to TV One News tonight, though I can't find any reference to this online yet. They are 'retired' from breeding and will be used for advocacy and education. They are getting a custom-built exhibit, but I'm not sure if this has been built yet. I think the only other captive Takahe in NZ are at Mt Bruce & Te Anau wildlife centres, but they can be seen on some offshore islands aswell, eg. Tiritiri Matangi. The main breeding population is located in Fiordland. The Department of Conservation is making takahe available to zoos as they retire. Auckland, Hamilton, Orana and Otarahonga Kiwi House are on the list to recieve these birds in the future. I haven't seen any Takahe yet, must make a trip to one of these places sometime soon.
I've been waiting for these guys to arrive (much easier to get photos of them in Chch than having to head up to Kapiti). I'd heard they were supposed to be arriving in November so was a bit surprised to see them on the news tonight. The enclosure is done, but I don't know if they're going on show just yet though. This is quite exciting in-as-much as Willowbank is the first non-DoC captive facility to display takahe (the only other captive ones on show are, as you say, Mt. Bruce and Te Anau); Tiritiri Matangi has takahe and is run by a trust (i.e. not DoC-run) but that's not a zoo of course. Karori in Wellington is also getting takahe this year. I'll be heading over to Willowbank as soon as I can once they're on show to get some snaps.
Oh good, I will hopefully make it to Karori this summer, so I hope to see them there! Look forward to your snaps of Hamilton & Guy at Willowbank.
Karori's informational pamphlet says their takahe are arriving "late 2010". Here's a link to their site regarding the takahe: 4/2/10 Takahe to find retirement home in Wellington
the takahe at Willowbank are on display as of today. I'll probably go over there later in the week or maybe next week to get some photos
I went to Willowbank the other day and I've put some photos of the takahe pair in the gallery: Willowbank Wildlife Reserve Gallery The male takahe is very friendly, so much so that it was difficult to get photos of him at first as he insisted on standing directly at the wire making the fantastic whoomping noise that they make (sounds like an amplified heartbeat). After a while he got bored of me and wandered further off. The female is quite shy and it took quite a while before she got up the nerve to come forwards. Very very cool birds.
Nice set of photos Chlidonias. Takahe along with the aye-aye and thylacine was an enigmatic species which I assumed would be extinct in my lifetime. Two out of three ain't bad. Now I'll just have to get over to NZ to see them.
Great photographs and what a wonderful species takahe are! Perhaps you can put in a review of Willowbank WR?
I have been thinking about that but due to...shall we say "professional reasons"...it would have to be a very different review to those I normally do because I can't be as straightforward in criticisms etc. I'll see what I can come up with.
Great photos! Wish I could get down to Christchurch, but I'm stuck in Auckland on a tight schedule. Maybe next time. Hix
Accepted, I understand if you choose not to. I have qualms no dissimilar at home *** for not doing any reviews (even if I could come up with wonderful behind the scenes stories) at all.
I need to go out to see them at Willowbank. I remember seing them in Te Anau years ago, but that's it.
Nope. Landed in Auckland at 16:00 on Friday, flew out the next morning at 09:50. I'm now in Niue til next Saturday. Hix
Karori/Zealandia has finally got their takahe pair, a little bit later than expected Takah? given a second chance - Story - Home - 3 News
the Orokonui EcoSanctuary down at Dunedin has a pair of takahe now also: Arrival of takahe 'dream come true' | Otago Daily Times Online News : Otago, South Island, New Zealand & International News
Willowbank's takahe have been all over the place recently it seems. I'm not sure of the specifics (this is what happens when travelling!), but a new female called Bunchy came in to pair with Hamilton (I don't know what happened to Guy, but Bunchy was the one which had been at Karori). Now both Hamilton and Bunchy are gone (?) and the two birds at Willowbank are female Mororo who came down from a temporary stay at Nga Manu (Nga Manu Nature Reserve Newsletter) and was paired with a male called Teebee who was thought to be too old to breed but they have instead produced a chick! (in November 2013) Zoo shocked by unexpected takahe hatching - Story - NZ News - 3 News Miracle takahe chick to be sexed - Story - NZ News - 3 News