Albatross bones needed

Press, 15 May 1985, Page 43

Albatross bones needed

PA Dunedin Royal albatross live for more than 55 years and seem to leave the Taiaroa Head colony, on the Otago Peninsula, to die, says an Otago Museum zoologist. Recently the “Press Association” reported that a shortage of albatross leg bones meant that the koauau, a traditional Maori wind instrument, could no longer be made. “The Minister of Arts, Mr

Tapsell, will be asked if leg bones from dead birds at Taiaroa Head albatross colony can be kept,” the report said. However, a vertebrate zoologist, Mr John Darby, said that in the 16 years he had been with the museum no more than four birds had died at Taiaroa Heads. They seemed to go somewhere else to die. Most albatross that did die there were taken to

Otago Museum. They were either stuffed or became skeletons before going on display in the biological collection. They would have no value as specimens if bones were given away, Mr Darby said. The Wildlife Act placed tight control on the use of remains of protected animals, he said. Before bone could be used to make koauau, Government permission would be required.