Stuff Sirocco is the only New Zealand bird to have an insurance package, which is valued at $79,500. Despite being flightless and effectively celibate, Sirocco, the hand-reared kākāpō, just might be the closest thing New Zealand has to royalty. Sara Larcombe/SUPPLIED Sirocco has a happy reunion with Department of Conservation kākāpō ranger Jake Osborne in 2018. New Zealand spent more than $13,000 tracking him down after he went off the grid for two years when his transmitter failed in March 2016. "I do think that's money well spent, and that's not in relation to Sirocco as a spokesbird," Vercoe said.

Source: Stuff June 27, 2020 04:52 UTC