Kākāpō photo snaps up international award

27th January 2011

A stunning photo of a kākāpō, taken by a DOC ranger, has picked up first prize in an international competition to photograph endangered birds.

The picture of Sinbad – the 12 year old son of veteran kākāpō Richard Henry, who died earlier this month – was taken by Department of Conservation Biodiversity ranger Shane McInnes.

Shane, based on Little Barrier Island, took the picture while on secondment to Codfish Island, where most of the 123 remaining kākāpō are based.

“It’s pretty cool to win this – I was definitely surprised!” said Shane. “I guess I’m a keen amateur photographer. While I was on Codfish I went for a walk along a track and found him. I grabbed the camera because they don’t hang around for long, but he struck a pose for me!

“The important thing is that the competition aimed to highlight the problem facing 500-odd species which are either rare or declining – several of which are in New Zealand. So hopefully this will bring awareness – and perhaps raise some funds – for kākāpō and the other threatened species.”

Click for big version

The ‘Worlds Rarest Birds’ competition was organised by BirdLife International, which will produce a book based on the images later this year.

DOC’s kākāpō recovery work is actively supported by a partnership involving Rio Tinto Alcan New Zealand Limited, New Zealand Aluminium Smelters Limited and Forest & Bird.

For more information see www.kakaporecovery.org.nz or www.doc.govt.nz

ENDS

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