KAKAPO PARROTS - Bird escape puts natives at risk

Hawkes Bay Today with news of some feathered fugitives that could pose a threat to New Zealand's domestic parrot populations, including the Kakapos of course.

The parakeets that escaped from the Botanical Gardens in Napier could pose a threat to New Zealand's native parrot population, says Forest and Bird's conservation manager.

The parakeets have disappeared after a hole was cut in the side of their cage on the weekend. Napier police said talk of a bird smuggling ring was "pure speculation".

Kevin Hackwell said exotic birds should never be released to the wild because they could compete with native birds and harbour disease.

Native parrots in New Zealand include several species of parakeet (kakariki); the kea, the world's only alpine parrot; the kaka, a forest parrot; and the kakapo, one of the world's rarest birds.

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