Source: Department of Conservation
Date: 27 February 2025
Professor of Animal Welfare Science Ngaio Beausoleil, from Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University’s Tāwharau Ora School of Veterinary Science, who carried out the assessment, recommended Charlie remain where she is to provide stability and allow her to adapt to her new environment over time.
Department of Conservation Fauna Science Manager Ash Murphy says DOC is working with wildlife husbandry experts at the Dunedin Botanic Garden Aviary (DBGA) and an avian specialist veterinarian at the Dunedin Wildlife Hospital on a plan to address recommendations in Professor Beausoleil’s report.
“The plan includes keeping Charlie with her enclosure mate in their current aviary and maintaining her high standard of care.
“Her keepers will gradually introduce more opportunities for Charlie to choose to have positive human interactions through training for rewards to increase her wellbeing, as recommended.
“Any changes made to Charlie’s care including training activities will be recorded and her behaviour closely monitored to gauge whether she’s responding positively. Her diet, eating habits and weight will also continue to be monitored.
“We encourage the public to give Charlie the time she needs to settle in, bond with her mate and enjoy her life at the Dunedin Botanic Garden Aviary,” Ash Murphy says.
Professor Beausoleil’s assessment concluded that Charlie is in good physical health and is well cared for at DBGA, including appropriate management of her chronic arthritis from old injuries.
It found Charlie exhibited abnormal repetitive behaviours such as swaying and toe nibbling which had increased since her move to DBGA, as she struggled to adapt to changes in her environment.
Charlie does not behave like a normal captive kākā because of ingrained behaviours she developed in her first year of captivity as a young bird in severely impoverished conditions prior to her transfer to Te Anau Bird Sanctuary. When Charlie is stressed, these behaviours are amplified.
Charlie was moved from Te Anau Bird Sanctuary to Dunedin in June 2024 to join other South Island kākā at the Dunedin Botanic Garden Aviary as part of the captive breed-for-release programme. She has been an excellent Mum and foster parent and raised multiple clutches of chicks previously.
In Dunedin she is currently paired up with male kākā, Bling, who she successfully bred with when they were both in Te Anau. Despite positive early signs with mating recorded several times, the pair did not produce any offspring this season.
Following concerns raised by people about Charlie’s behaviour in Dunedin, the Ministry for Primary Industries recommended DOC commission an independent welfare assessment.
Professor Beausoleil also made some recommendations for the kākā breed-for-release programme more generally, including developing an ‘ethogram’ or catalogue of behaviour in captive kākā and guidelines to be incorporated in an updated Kākā Husbandry Manual to enable better monitoring of kākā welfare in captive facilities.
DOC is considering these recommendations as they relate to the South Island kākā breed-for-release programme.
Background information
Charlie Girl kākā welfare assessment report (PDF, 511K)
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