Reintroducing kākā

Reintroducing kākā

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Marking Student Responses
Further Resources
This task is about conservation of kākā.
kaka.jpg

Five kākā venture into new Mt Bruce home

Five young kākā have ventured out into a new home in Wairarapa's Mt Bruce Forest as part of a national trial to re-establish mainland populations of the threatened species. Three captive birds from Auckland Zoo and two from the National Wildlife Centre at Mt Bruce, near Masterton, were released yesterday. It is hoped they will join eight kākā successfully released last year. It has been nearly 50 years since this native parrot was seen in the Mt Bruce forest.

A National Wildlife Centre spokesman said the kākā would carry radio transmitters on their backs. "A particular aim of the research is to find out how birds raised by their natural parents fare in comparison to hand-raised birds." Four of the last year's kākā had been hand-reared and had coped well. The recently released birds had been raised by their parents. Kākā were once common throughout the country's forests but fell foul of predators. Today the population was less than 5 percent of the original numbers – about 10,000

Question 2Change answer

a)  What was the main aim of the research?

Question 2Change answer

b)  Explain why this aim is important in the conservation of birds like the kākā.

Question 2Change answer

c)  Why were radio transmitters placed on the birds' backs?

Question 2Change answer

d)  Give an example of a predator which helped cause the decrease in numbers of kākā.
Task administration: 
This task can be completed with pencil and paper or online.
Copyright: 
kaka
Copyright: DOC
 
Article reproduced by courtesy of the Evening Post, Wellington.
Level:
4
Curriculum info: 
Science, Understanding about science, Living World
Keywords: 
ecology, conservation, native birds, kaka, kaitiakitanga
Description of task: 
Task: read an article about releasing hand-reared kaka into a safe environment and answer questions about the research. Assessment focus: field investigations.
Curriculum Links: 
Science capabilities
The capabilities focus is brought about by the conversations you have and the questions you ask.
 
Capability: Gather and interpret data
This resource provides opportunities to discuss how scientists gather data.
Science capabilities: 
Gather and interpret data
Answers/responses: 

 

Y9 (03/1998)
a) To find out how birds raised by their natural parents fare in comparison to hand-raised birds/to see if threatened species can be re-established on the mainland. moderate
b) Because if hand-raised birds fare/survive as well, etc., then this would allow greater breeding opportunities/would provide a greater habitat area/to prevent extinction/ because numbers are too low (endangered). moderate
c) So that they could track the birds. moderate
d) Stoats/ferrets/rats/cats. moderate