Kakapo numbers down to 127
January 2012: Kakapo Recovery programme manager Deidre Vercoe Scott said Sandra, a female discovered on Stewart Island in 1992, was found dead on Anchor Island at the weekend, caught up by her transmitter harness.
"It's gutting for the team to lose one of the birds this way. Without transmitters, our mission to support and grow the kakapo population would be virtually impossible" she said.
Transmitters are fitted on every kakapo and are crucial for locating the birds. Ms Vercoe Scott said it was the first time a kakapo had died in such a manner.
First harness death in 31 years
"The harnesses are fitted in a way that the bird will wriggle out of them if they get hooked on something. We've been using them for the past 31 years without a death like this occurring. We're not sure what happened to Sandra but she may have got really twisted up. It's extremely upsetting."
Sandra didn't have a good breeding history, raising just one chick in 1999, Morehu.
Fourth recent death
Her death is the fourth since September 2011 and sees the kakapo population fall to 127, down from a high of 131 following last year's breeding season. There will be no breeding season this year.
January 2012: Kakapo Recovery programme manager Deidre Vercoe Scott said Sandra, a female discovered on Stewart Island in 1992, was found dead on Anchor Island at the weekend, caught up by her transmitter harness.
"It's gutting for the team to lose one of the birds this way. Without transmitters, our mission to support and grow the kakapo population would be virtually impossible" she said.
Transmitters are fitted on every kakapo and are crucial for locating the birds. Ms Vercoe Scott said it was the first time a kakapo had died in such a manner.
First harness death in 31 years
"The harnesses are fitted in a way that the bird will wriggle out of them if they get hooked on something. We've been using them for the past 31 years without a death like this occurring. We're not sure what happened to Sandra but she may have got really twisted up. It's extremely upsetting."
Sandra didn't have a good breeding history, raising just one chick in 1999, Morehu.
Fourth recent death
Her death is the fourth since September 2011 and sees the kakapo population fall to 127, down from a high of 131 following last year's breeding season. There will be no breeding season this year.
To read about another recent kakapo mortality, click Kakapo death ends disappointing year
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