Ever wondered what a baby kakapo looks like? Check out conservation superstar Sirocco as a fuzzy 185 gram chick.
Continue Reading...Archives For 30/11/1999
The online world is pretty new to DOC staff, but this week we saw how quickly things can blow up – in a remarkable and positive way!
It started a few days ago, when BBC aired the episode of their new series “Last Chance to See” which featured our favourite kakapo, Sirocco. In fact, what REALLY caught people’s interest, was when Sirocco got a bit ‘up close and personal’ with presenter Mark Cawardine. 650 000 Youtube hits later – and New Zealand’s very own kakapo had been catapulted into the international spotlight.
Within a matter of hours after Sirocco’s starring perfomance on “Last Chance to See”, his Facebook page jumped by another 750 friends, and now boasts 2500 online ‘friends’ who are besotted with kakapo and what we do to look after them here in New Zealand.
Department of Conservation staff have been amazed by the response that viewers of the BBC programme, starring Stephen Fry and Mark Cawardine, has evoked from the British public. This morning, Sirocco’s antics even featured in “The Sun” newspaper in the UK.
The show “Last Chance to See” is a remake of the series that the late Douglas Adams and Mark Cawardine recorded for radio and published a book on in 1990.
Many of the comments posted on Sirocco’s rapidly growing Facebook page send words of support and encouragement to kākāpō recovery as well as many offers of donations to continue to increase the survival of the kākāpō.
I’ve been acting a wee bit as Sirocco’s “publicist” during this time (he couldn’t keep up with all the media interest on his own!) – and we decided that he could definitely benefit from having a Twitter account. So, yesterday, to celebrate the amazing response we have had, we launched a Twitter account for him www.twitter.com/spokesbird (it’s case-sensitive i think too).
When I last checked his Twitter account this afternoon – I found that more than 1500 people are now following his regular Tweets (he prefers to call them “Skraaarks”) which are all about kakapo conservation in New Zealand. We’d love for you to join up to follow him too – so by all means, get on Twitter, and I’ll make sure Sirocco sends out plenty of relevant kakapo information.
What I think is really cool about all of this is that it reminds us that while we may not have megafauna such as lions, tigers or bears in New Zealand – our charismatic, unique and special wildlife is of great interest to people around the world.
And the neat thing about using all of this social media palava, is that we can connect with people all over the world, who are showing a genuine interest in the conservation of our precious native wildlife. That is, they’re not just seeing the Youtube video and having a giggle (although how could you not!?), but they are also taking the time to reach out via the internet to find out A) more about kakapo and B) what they might be able to do to help the species. This is an amazing situation – and one we are watching with great interest!
I thought i’d finish up by posting one of the HUNDREDS of messages that people have posted on Twitter and Facebook, from a lady called Leia in the UK.
“I too saw you on “Last chance to see” all the way over in Wales, UK, what a star you are 🙂 I hope you and your kind are around for many more years to come and that there’ll always be lovely and dedicated people around to help you out :)”
It makes me real proud to be a kiwi (or should i say kakapo today!?) when people around the world are looking at how we do conservation in little old Aotearoa.
Sirocco the superstar and his 'publicist' in quieter times... he sure does keep me busy!
NZ on Screen’s Nature collection of Natural History New Zealand documentaries bring home how much our national identity is tied up with our natural identity.
Continue Reading...
Sirocco’s visit to Auckland Zoo is a team event
Conservation Week is definitely a celebration of the amazing partnerships networking throughout New Zealand to ensure the preservation of NZ’s natural and historic heritage.
Sirocco at Auckland Zoo. Photo: Auckland Zoo
‘Get involved …and who knows’ is certainly the mantra of Sirocco the kakapo’s visit to Auckland Zoo, September 14th – 23rd. With a small window of opportunity opening in Sirocco’s busy advocacy calendar before his encounters on Ulva Island Trust the spark of an idea to introduce him to Auckland ignited in DOC National Office. This naturally flowed on to discussions with the DOC Southern Islands Area kakapo team, Auckland Conservancy, Auckland Zoo, Auckland Area and sponsor partners Rio Tinto and Forest and Bird.
A six week flurry of activity followed involving iwi, bio-security, permitting, travel, housing, staffing, programme development and marketing. Auckland Zoo designed and purpose-built 3m x 6m recreation of the Whenua Hou (Codfish Island) night bush environment. Kakapo interpretation was gathered from throughout NZ and displayed along with DVD presentations, zoo keeper and DOC ranger talks about all things kakapo and other NZ endangered species breeding programmes.
Ranger Jo Ledington with Sirocco. Photo: Auckland Zoo
With DOC Southern Islands Area kakapo team’s support ranger Jo Ledington travelled with Sirocco to ensure his welfare throughout the programme.
Sirocco has tucked Campbell Live, TVNZ Breakfast, the NZ Herald and the Auckland City Scene firmly under his wing in his staunch advocacy for his species. So far 300 Aucklanders have visited Sirocco each night, with some travellers coming from Wellington, Christchurch and Tauranga to see him.
Zoo staff, DOC staff and energetic zoo volunteers have helped the population of Auckland not only meet this wonderful character but also learn about the recovery of kakapo and the celebration of all things conservation!
Hi all,
It’s a bit hard on the ego being upstaged by a parrot – even a parrot as beautiful and rare as Sirocco! Here I was thinking that I was a sort of DOC VIP, what with the Meet the Locals TV show and such, but a quick google around reveals that I am a mere speck in the universe compared to our true conservation ambassador – Sirocco the kakapo. He’s on youtube, he has his own Facebook profile page, there are currently billboards featuring his big beautiful face around Auckland City right now, and today I found an article on him in the Guardian paper in the UK!!! (you have to scroll down to the “Man-eating parrot” subtitle!).
- you know you’ve ‘made it’ when you have your own billboard!
So who better to help us celebrate Conservation Week this year – and all of those people (many of you!) who ‘get involved’, than our very own kakapo celebrity, Sirocco. DOC and Auckland Zoo have joined forces and are hosting this very special guest to help tell the story of kakapo conservation in NZ and the incredible work of the Kakapo Recovery Programme (www.kakaporecovery.org.nz).
Sirocco is one of 124 kakapo remaining in the world. He is a very special bird, and developed his penchant for people after being hand-raised as a chick due to a chest infection 12 years ago. This led to him becoming very fond of humans (more fond of them than kakapo so far!), and as such, Sirocco has become an excellent advocate for conservation in NZ. Sirocco is renowned for his antics down on Whenua Hou, where his bowl (male kakapo create elaborate ‘track and bowl’ systems to attract females) is situated behind the Sealer’s Bay hut on the way to the toilet! The funniest story I heard about him was when he joined one of our ranger’s families who were jumping off a jetty and swimming – not wanting to be left out, Sirocco made a running leap off the jetty into the ocean! ‘turns out kakapo can swim! (you can see a video of our ranger telling that story here)
The saddest thing I ever learned about kakapo was that they used to be one of NZ’s most common birds – found all over this country. Unfortunately hunting, habitat destruction and introduced predators took their toll on the kakapo -reducing their numbers to just 50 by 1995. Thanks to the commitment and dedication of the Kakapo Recovery Programme, the thousands of volunteers, scientists, rangers, vets and sponsors – kakapo are now back over 100. This year, beyond all expectations, 33 chicks survived (26 of whom were captive-raised in Invercargill!), and six years from now when these birds start to breed – it may give these amazing birds just the boost they need to thrive again one day.
Anyway, Sirocco will be visiting Auckland Zoo from September 14th-23rd to help celebrate Conservation Week and tell the story of one of our greatest conservation challenges. We’d LOVE to see you there. for more info and ticket bookings, please visit www.aucklandzoo.co.nz/kakapo and http://www.conservationweek.org.nz/
Having met Sirocco a few times now – i can honestly say that a real-life encounter with these birds (even a hard-case one like Sirocco!) is a life-changing experience. I would recommend for all of you in Auckland during this time to take the chance to meet this amazing icon of our natural heritage. Look forward to seeing you there!
