Kea birds (Nestor notabilis) are large, intelligent parrots that are endemic to the alpine regions of New Zealand’s South Island. They are known for their inquisitive nature and tendency to investigate new objects and environments. Kea have been observed attacking and eating sheep, which has led to controversy regarding their conservation status.
Do kea birds attack sheep?
There are many documented reports of kea attacking and feeding on live sheep. They usually target sheep that are sick, injured, or have open wounds. Kea mainly feed on the fat deposits around the kidneys and loins of the sheep by digging into the soft tissue. They will also feed on dead sheep that they find.
One of the earliest accounts of kea attacking sheep comes from 1860 when they were observed “attacking sheep, and eating their kidneys while they were yet alive.” Other accounts describe kea “eating into the backs of living sheep,” and “digging out pieces of flesh from the living animal.”
A survey conducted in 1992 found that over 95% of South Island high country sheep farmers reported incidents of kea attacking their sheep. The attacks mainly occurred during the spring and summer months when juvenile kea leave their family groups and form foraging flocks. The scale of the damage done is hard to quantify but has been a cause of concern for farmers.
Why do kea attack sheep?
There are several theories as to why kea attack and feed on sheep:
- Kea are naturally curious and attracted to novel food sources. Live sheep and their fat deposits may be viewed as an interesting potential food.
- Sheep wool and skin provide little resistance to kea’s powerful hooked beaks. So sheep become easy targets.
- Kea predominantly scavenge food in the wild. So they are adapted to exploit any meat source they can access.
- Juvenile kea learn this behavior from adults. It spreads through the local population as a learned foraging strategy.
- Sheep farmers inadvertently encourage the behavior by leaving sheep carcasses out which kea scavenge on.
Many experts think it is a combination of these factors that drive kea to view sheep as a food source and repeatedly attack flocks.
How much damage can kea do to sheep?
The amount of damage done to sheep by kea attacks varies greatly. In some cases, they will take only a few small bites from a live sheep. But in other instances, they may dig out and eat large quantities of fat and flesh leaving gaping wounds:
- Number of sheep killed – Most attacks do not result in the death of the sheep. But one survey estimated 0.2% of sheep were killed by kea per year.
- Fat and flesh eaten – Kea have been documented eating up to 1.5kg of fat and flesh from a live sheep in a single attack.
- Value of losses – One farmer reported annual losses valued at $36,000 over 8 years due to kea attacks on his flock.
Mortality rates are low, but damage, veterinary costs, and reduced wool quality can still make these attacks costly for farmers.
Do kea eat all parts of a sheep?
Kea predominately feed on thefat deposits around the kidneys and loins of sheep. The kidneys and loins are more easily accessible as compared to other body parts.
There are some reports of them eating other tissues like skeletal muscle and organs if the abdomen and thoracic cavities are accessible. However, they do not eat the wool, skin, or bones.
When feeding on dead sheep, kea also focus on fat deposits but will feed on any soft tissue throughout the carcass.
How do farmers protect sheep from kea attacks?
There are several methods farmers use to try and reduce kea attacks on sheep:
- Removing attractants – Quickly removing dead stock and afterbirth from fields to avoid attracting kea.
- Deterrents – Using repellents, scare guns with bright lights and loud bangs, and perhaps even dogs to frighten away kea.
- Shepherding – Keeping sheep herds together and moving them away from areas with high kea populations.
- Trapping – Capturing and euthanizing problematic kea that repeatedly attack sheep.
But most approaches have had limited success in completely stopping attacks. The large range and mobility of kea make control difficult.
Is shooting kea an effective deterrent?
Some farmers have shot at and killed kea attempting to attack their sheep. For many years, the government placed a bounty on kea beaks to protect sheep flocks. This bounty was removed in the 1970s.
Studies have shown shooting is not an effective long-term deterrent for stopping kea attacks. It only temporarily removes the individual kea in that area. More kea will still pass through the area and attack sheep.
Indiscriminate shooting of kea is also no longer legal. Under the Wildlife Act 1953, you must obtain permission from the Department of Conservation to shoot or kill protected species like kea.
Do kea only target sheep or other livestock too?
Kea predominantly target sheep but there are some reports of them attacking other livestock as well:
- Sheep – Most common target due to the large numbers grazed in alpine areas.
- Goats – Rare reports of kea attacking dairy goats.
- Cattle – Very occasional attacks on cattle have been reported.
- Horses – No documented reports but possible due to horses sometimes grazing alpine areas.
The relative rarity of other livestock in alpine zones makes sheep the prey of choice. But other livestock with open wounds or limited mobility are still at risk of attracting kea.
Do kea only eat sheep or other foods too?
Sheep form only part of the broader kea diet. Kea are omnivores and eat a wide range of foods:
- Nectar and pollen from flowers
- Seeds
- Berries
- Fruit
- Plant shoots
- Insects and grubs
- Small reptiles and birds
- Scavenged meat from animals
Kea will scavenge any food source they can access. Their attacks on sheep are likely an opportunistic strategy rather than a dietary staple.
Are kea a protected species in New Zealand?
Yes, kea are a nationally endangered species and protected under the Wildlife Act 1953 in New Zealand. Their conservation status is:
- Nationally Endangered – The kea is listed as Nationally Endangered by the Department of Conservation with between 1000-5000 remaining.
- Protected – It is an offense to hunt, kill or possess kea without specific authorization from the Department of Conservation.
Their endangered status is due to habitat loss, predation, and conflict with humans. The number of kea has declined from an estimated 100,000 birds before human settlement to between 1000-5000 today.
Should farmers be allowed to cull kea?
This is a complex debate with reasonable arguments on both sides:
For Culling
- Kea cause severe economic losses for farmers through attacks on sheep.
- Non-lethal control methods are largely ineffective.
- Rules could allow limited culling of problem birds rather than indiscriminate killing.
Against Culling
- Kea are a protected endangered species so killing them further threatens the population.
- Farmers using alpine grazing areas should accept occasional wildlife attacks as inevitable.
- Culling a few individuals is unlikely to solve the problem long-term.
There are merits to both sides of the debate. A potential compromise could be the use of limited culling alongside other non-lethal control methods and prevented access of sheep to high risk areas.
Conclusion
Kea are inquisitive parrots that are attracted to the fat on the bodies of live sheep and have learned to feed on them. This causes economic losses for farmers but has also led to conflict with conservation efforts to protect the endangered kea. A balanced approach is needed that continues to promote non-lethal deterrents but also accepts some controlled culling may be warranted where attacks persist.