A flight was organized to transport a small swarm of rare New Zealand birds to a remote island to ensure their survival, despite the strict closure imposed to combat the outbreak of the Corona virus.
Yesterday, Environmental Protection Minister Eugenie Sage said that five of the small beach plover birds were flown by an Air New Zealand plane from Christchurch to Mana Island, on a 450-kilometer journey.
It is noteworthy that there are only 250 birds of this type in the world that belong to New Zealand, and these birds are also called "tutorato". Under strict New Zealand closure rules, no domestic flights are allowed unless necessary. The minister stated that small birds are an "important part" of efforts to establish a self-sustaining life for this type of bird on the pest-free island off the coast of Wellington.
And she continued: "A review concluded that delaying the transport further, will have dangerous effects on the well-being and health of all birds."
She noted that the transport of birds was carried out according to careful planning, including the use of personal protective equipment to prevent the outbreak of the Corona virus. These birds disappeared from mainland New Zealand in the 1970s, as they fell prey to cats and rats.
A program for her upbringing was established in the 1990s to boost her numbers.
- New Zealand Minister of Environment:
"Delayed transportation would have had dangerous effects on the welfare and health of all birds."