13 Jul,
2019 5:00am
Feature
writer, NZ Herald
The
international science effort to determine what's killing kākāpō has begun
DNA-sequencing fungus collected from the birds' island home.
Researchers
want to rule out the presence of an antifungal resistant strain of the disease
aspergillosis, detected in seven dead kākāpō since April. Another 13 birds are
still being treated for the disease in mainland vet hospitals, with some not
expected to survive.
Dr Andrew
Digby, Department of Conservation kākāpō science advisor, says DNA-sequencing
would identify exactly what strains of the disease were present on Whenua Hou
(Codfish Island) where all the sick birds had come from. Results would be
shared with United Kingdom researchers working on a global study of the fungus,
including a rise in treatment resistant strains.
Kākāpō is
a critically endangered species - there are just 142 adults and 72 chicks in
the world. At the height of the current crisis, around 45 birds had been
removed from Whenua Hou. Massey University's Wild Base Vet Hospital, Dunedin
Wildlife Hospital and Auckland Zoo Vet Hospital are caring for the quarantined
kākāpō.
Digby
says no new sick birds have been reported in the past three weeks, and 31 had
now been returned to Whenua Hou. The international response was ongoing with
around 20 individuals or organisations in the United Kingdom, United States and
Australia now involved.
"Kākāpō
are so unusual and weird that people are willing to give up their time and
help."
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