Step into the world of our kea and unlock the wonders of these extraordinary creatures
Kea are unique to the Southern Alps and are the worlds only true alpine parrot. They are also one of the world’s most intelligent animal! Kea are very social – they love to play, are very inquisitive and like to investigate new things.
Distinguishing features of a kea include general olive-green colour with orange-red underwings. The male's beak is more curved than the female's. Like most parrots they walk with deliberate, waddling stride; jumping when in a hurry. Kea fly low and fast through bush, high when travelling far.
Threats to the kea include lead poisoning, 1080 poisoning, human persecution and predation by introduced pests.
To find out how you can help conserve kea in the wild, go to www.keaconservation.co.nz.
Quick facts
Distribution:
New Zealand's South Island
Habitat:
Alpine forests, coastal forests
Conservation Status:
Endangered