FEATURE
Rimu fruits, nightfall, moving feet – and her aim was first to identify these triggers and then to re-direct the resulting response. Sirocco’s reaction and body language was observed – his stalking activity and change in head shape – indicating that he was about to ‘attack’. Training was accomplished using food
treat rewards, initially distracting his attention, then re-focusing it on an alternative object. It is well recognised that mating behaviour can be influenced – stallions and bulls are persuaded to copulate with artificial vaginal sleeves, and falcons mate with special hats, to collect semen for artificial insemination – so Sirocco’s amorous behaviour was led towards a large stuffed toy owl. Such training was successful, but tiring for the rangers, since Kakapo can extend their mating interval up to 40 minutes. An alternative target was sought, and they hit upon the plastic footwear known as Crocs® These were plentiful, used as outdoor wear in this very wet area, then discarded by rangers outside their huts as they went indoors. Since Sirocco already had a penchant for moving feet, it was an easy matter to transfer his amorous attentions to this specific footwear. The technique has proved highly successful, and he no longer poses such a nuisance to human visitors. Genetically, Sirocco has no particular importance in the breeding project, so he has been adopted as an ambassador for the
conservation activity, and has appeared at various zoos and sanctuaries in New Zealand to promote interest in the project. Barbara concluded by saying that such
techniques have relevance in other conservation projects, by training chicks during critical periods of their development, thereby reducing future stress at subsequent examinations for weighing, sampling, or fitting tracking transmitters. During the 2015-16 breeding season, 32 Kakapo chicks were bred to
An alternative target was sought, and they hit upon the plastic footwear known as Crocs® These were plentiful, used as outdoor wear in this very wet area, then discarded by rangers outside their huts as they went indoors. Since Sirocco already had a penchant for moving feet, it was an easy matter to transfer his amorous attentions to this specific footwear. The technique has proved highly successful, and he no longer poses such a nuisance to human visitors.
BIRD SCENE 09
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