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Postal Address:
PO Box 13 678,
Christchurch 8141,
New Zealand
Threats to kea
Kea in the wild are threatened by pests and human activity.
These threats include:
- Introduced predators such as stoats and possums
- Lead in kea habitat (eg flashings and lead-head nails, tyre weights, lead shot which can be toxic to kea)
- Ground based pest control devices, baits and traps
- Poorly timed aerial 1080 pest control
- Avian diseases
- Climate change which can lead to increases in predator numbers and affect the amount of food and habitat available
- Accidents with human objects such as motor vehicles, snow groomers, rubbish bins and electricity sub-stations
- Illegal killing
- Illegal wildlife trade
Projects are being developed to minimise the impact of each of these threats.
Introduced predators
One of the biggest threats to kea is from introduced predators. Introduced stoats and possums are the key predators of kea and are found throughout the kea habitat. These predators impact on the survival of kea chicks and the survival of adult kea females. Stoats can reduce nest survival to near zero during the stoat plague years that follow beech mast events as well as reduce the number of adult kea females.
Controlling predators through intensive pest control programmes is vital for kea.
Predator control methods include:
- baiting (aerial or ground based applications)
- trapping.
These methods need to be used with caution as curious kea can be harmed by traps and by accidentally eating poison.
Complete the Threats to kea quiz >
What do you think you can do to help reduce threats to kea?