Olive was spotted in Hanmer Springs as a juvenile by local photographer Gavin Martin. She had a badly broken wing but was able to evade capture. Dorothy Geen and her husband John fed her for 10 days preventing starvation, earning her trust, and encouraging her down to the same platform. Our manager Holly Turner made a DIY falcon-safe trap and together with Dot, successfully rescued her!

She was very underweight and an X-ray showed that the break was over 3 weeks old, with calcification fusing the wing in an incorrect position. We wrapped Olive’s wing to help it heal in a more comfortable position and gave her medication to support healing. Sadly she won’t ever be able to fly strongly again. Fortunately, instead of euthanasia being the only option, we can give kārearea like her a second chance at life within our Restoration Breeding programme.

Olive was named by Dorothy Geen in reference to the ‘olive branch’ we offered to her through rescue and rehabilitation.

BRONZE -

SILVER -

GOLD - John & Dorothy Geen, Hanmer Springs, NZ