Footage has emerged of a takahē eating another bird at Wellington’s Zealandia eco-sanctuary and is being touted as never-before documented behaviour.
One of the sanctuary’s education guides, Ian Geeson, was taking a group of students through the park when he came across Puffin, one of their female takahē, eating a paradise duckling.
- Click ‘View Video’ for footage of Puffin eating the duckling
Zealandia conservation manager Raewyn Empson says she was gobsmacked to hear the news and has never heard of takahē eating other birds before.
“I just couldn’t believe it…I’d heard tales of small lizards being taken occasionally on Maud Island but never anything like this.
“It’s really quite exciting. Takahē are related to the pūkeko which we know sometimes take the eggs and chicks of other birds but we think this is the first recorded case for takahē and almost definitely the first on film.”
Puffin escaped from a smaller enclosure inside the sanctuary earlier this year with T2, a male takahē, sparking rumours that they may be mating.
Ms Empson says Puffin’s new feeding behaviour has reignited speculation that a baby may be on the way, although there is no proof yet.
There are less than 250 takahē in existence. For more information on takahē, click here.
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