RAVAGES OF KEAS

Te Aroha News, Volume XLI, Issue 6545, 18 November 1924, Page 1

RAVAGES OF KEAS

Evidence of the ravages of keas among sheep has been received by the Department of Agriculture. Messrs Jackson Brothers of Netherwood, Blenheim, forwarded to the Minister a .photograph of a sheep as it was found after being attacked by a kea. The sheep was badly torn about the kidneys, and would have died in a very short time. Four other sheep, ►found at different times, have been killed in a similar manner. In a report furnished by the Government Veterinarian, Mr E. E. Elphic, who was dispatched to Netherwood by the Department to investigate, it is stated that the condition of one kea lvhich was shot proved conclusively that it had been attacking sheep. Another kea was shot while it actually was tearing at the back of a fallen sheep. The house at Netherwood is situated about 1400 ft above sea level, and the camping grounds where the sheep were killed, half a mile away, is about 300 ft higher than the house. On this camping ground 17 sheep have been lost.