This documentary tells the story of the inimitable kea. The 'Clown of the Alps' is heralded as the world’s smartest bird (its intelligence rivals a monkey’s). Kea are infamous on South Island ski fields and tramping tracks for their insatiable (and deconstructive) inquisitiveness. Curiosity almost killed the kea when it was daubed a sheep killer, and tens of thousands were killed for a bounty. Here - clip four - extraordinary night footage reveals the ‘avian wolf’ in action. The award-winning film makes a compelling case for the charismatic kea as a national icon.
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Love Maggie Koerth-Baker's words on boingboing today:
"Happy, little green parrot who calmly burrows through the still-living flesh of sheep and dines upon their kidney fat while they lay bleating in terror. No, really."
Nature is fierce.
Wow those kea are mean! But I guess not too different from people in the end.
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Television, 1987 (Full Length)
A documentary featuring kea
Television, 1990
A David Bellamy-presented series looking at New Zealand’s natural history
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Paul
Posted at 04.01PM - 27.10.2009
Nice documentary, completely ruined by the constant fake noises. If it wasn't the snow being incredibly loud it was the fact that not a 5 second period went by without hearing there call! Very Very annoying!