'Bachelors' released and looking for love

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AWAY YOU GO: Department of Conservation ranger Helen Dodson releases two female takahe, Kawa and Whata, at Burwood Bush Takahe Rearing Unit, Te Anau.

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Passengers on commercial flights from Invercargill to Wellington last week may have been surprised to find they were sitting next to rare New Zealand birds.

Two boys from Burwood Bush were being transferred from their takahe sanctuary in Te Anau to a new home on Kapiti Island. Two female birds came to Southland in return.

The two male takahe, Otako and Blitzen, travelled in purpose-built boxes in their own seats on board an Air New Zealand flight last week, giving crew and passengers a close-up encounter with a critically endangered species.

The Department of Conservation is hoping the two "bachelors" will find some romance at their new home as they seek to increase the gene pool through an exchange programme with other breeding units.

DOC ranger Helen Dodson said those who got the chance to see the birds were amazed at the size of the "pukeko on steroids".

"Takahe are so rare that not many people ever get the chance to see them beyond the TV screen."

Otako and Blitzen's flight north and the matchmaking efforts were part of an exchange of birds between Kapiti Island, Tiritiri Matangi Island and Burwood Bush Takahe Breeding Unit.

In exchange for the male birds, two females, Kawa and Whata, were sent down to Burwood Bush.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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