THE KEA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18141, 12 January 1921, Page 5

THE KEA

PRICK ON HIS HEAD. (Fbom Oub Own Cobbespondbnt.) WELLINGTON, January 11. Lost session Parliament voted sums of money on the estimates for the destruction of keas. Reports from the back-country runs indicate that for some considerable time past the kea haa been on the increase, and that on some stations considerable numbers of sheep have been killed and others injured as the result either of his curiosity or his liking for the kidney fat of the sheep. A price of five shillings is now upon his head, and the mgney is being paid out by the two departments-yviz., Lands and Agriculture, as both are interested. Hitherto the beaks of the killed birds have been collected by the county councils in the affected districts, and now stock inspectors, as well, will pay for beaks sent in to the Stock Department. In the Mount Oook district there was some objection by the Tourist Department to indiscriminate shooting, on .account of the presence of the thar and chamois in that region, so it has been arranged that officers of the Tourist Department should put on special men to keep the birds within bounds there. It seems a pity that it should be necessary to put a price upon the head of this interesting and beautiful bird, but his recent depredations amongst the flocks in the 2ygh country have made it a matter of necessity. There are, however, fastnesses where the kea can still breed unmolested, so there can be no danger of wiping the species out altogether.