The kaka's penchant for unusual food has left a handful of chicks with the staggers and struggling not to throw up.
A spike in lead poisoning among New Zealand's resurgent endemic parrot population is being investigated by researchers.
Massey University's Wildbase Hospital in Palmerston North had two dead kaka chicks come in, and a post-mortem revealed lead poisoning was the cause of death.
They then found the birds' three nest-mates were also showing signs of being poisoned, including changes to their blood cells and nervous systems, causing the birds to regurgitate food and lose balance.
No comments:
Post a Comment