Facts about Kea

1. 08

   Bonded kea pairs can remain together for life, with strong monogamous partnerships lasting over 20 years in wild populations observed by New Zealand researchers.

   KeaMay 14sharebehaviorbreedingsocial
2. 07

   Approximately 5,000 kea parrots remain in the wild today, down from an estimated 15,000 in the 1990s, making population recovery a central focus of New Zealand's conservation efforts.

   KeaMay 14shareconservationpopulationmeasurement
3. 06

   During the 1970s and 1980s, New Zealand authorities culled thousands of kea due to livestock predation concerns, nearly driving the species to extinction before protection efforts reversed the population decline.

   KeaMay 14shareconservationhistorypopulation
4. 05

   Olive-green plumage and a distinctive curved beak allow kea parrots to forage for insects and grubs beneath New Zealand's mountain vegetation.

   KeaMay 14sharebiologyadaptationbehavior
5. 04

   With lifespans reaching 50 to 60 years in the wild, kea parrots are among the longest-lived bird species native to New Zealand.

   KeaMay 14sharelifespanbiologylongevity
6. 03

   Kea parrots have been observed deliberately peeling rubber and plastic from vehicles in New Zealand, causing thousands of dollars in damage annually to parked cars.

   KeaMay 14sharebehaviordamageintelligence
7. 02

   Kea parrots have demonstrated the ability to use tools and solve multi-step puzzles, displaying intelligence comparable to great apes in laboratory studies.

   KeaMay 14sharecognitionbehaviorintelligence
8. 01

   Native to New Zealand's South Island mountains, the kea is the world's only alpine parrot and can survive at elevations above 2000 meters.

   KeaMay 14sharebiologygeographymeasurement