Beware, New Zealanders: a brave kea parrot was recently spotted stealing a GoPro camera from an unsuspecting tourist in Fiordland National Park. We have eyes on the suspect, thanks to the fact that the bird filmed the entire theft with the stolen camera in its beak. The kea is a greenish-yellow parrot that can be found in the forested and mountainous parts of New Zealand’s South Island. The species is known as the “naughty alpine parrot” because of its intelligence, curiosity, and fun, which can get them into trouble with humans.
Alex Verheul told local TV station Seven Sharp that their family had just concluded their first day hiking around the Kepler Track in Fiordland National Park when they observed some unusual birds nearby. The GoPro camera was set up on the balcony in the hopes of catching a sight of the kea, but one of the birds took it from the balcony and flew away, capturing its escape throughout the gorgeous national park.
The video concludes with a view of the thieving kea happily standing with a piece of camera plastic in its mouth. Then, all of a sudden, a boy exclaims, “I found it!” Despite all odds, Verheul’s family was able to locate the GoPro. “We basically followed the sound down there and saw them hanging out in a tree – they’d obviously heard us coming and abandoned the GoPro,” Verheul explained to Seven Sharp. “When my son went to examine the rocks where it appeared like a suitable spot for a bird to settle, it was still sitting there, filming.”
The IUCN Red List classifies the kea (Nestor notabilis) as an endangered species, with only 4,000 mature individuals remaining in the wild. The species is threatened by a variety of factors, including invasive species, climate change, habitat destruction, and poaching. Scientists have noticed that some members of this alpine parrot are traveling to higher elevations to avoid people as a result of this pressure. Who are we to blame them?
The uncommon and critically endangered alpine parrots of New Zealand may have fled to the mountains to avoid humans, according to researchers, and their adaptability may help them weather the climate catastrophe. The kea is said to be the world’s only alpine parrot. Kea was once prevalent in other sections of the country, according to experts who studied DNA sequencing and fossil records. The news is a blow to the kea’s reputation as an internationally unique “alpine parrot.” However, it could be a lifesaver for the endangered species, allowing them to survive habitat loss and greater competition.
