DoC - Lisa Morrison, Takahe husbandry
Lisa Morrison is a Takahe husbandry assistant for
Doc.
Get to know more of the keepers featured in Wild
Vets by clicking here.
What animals do you work with?
Takahe, an endangered flightless bird only found in New
Zealand.
How long have you worked as a keeper?
For three months.
Why did you become a keeper?
I wanted to work for the Department of Conservation while I am
studying at university. I have learned about flightless birds
at university and I was really interested to see how endangered
birds are managed. Getting the opportunity to work with Takahe is a
real privilege. I want to help increase their population, so
that one day they will be able to survive without the captive
breeding programme.
Where in the world have you worked as a keeper and what
animals did you work with?
Working with Takahe is my first job with animals.
What is your favourite animal?
I bet you think I will say Takahe ... and you are
right!
Your funniest/most memorable animal story?
Sometimes we catch Takahe if they need vaccinations or if
they are moving to a new place. Catching juveniles or adults
is challenging. They can't fly but they can run very
fast.
If there are only one or two people, we have to chase all around
and dive to grab the Takahe's legs. If there is more staff, we all
creep up slowly and try to corner the bird. Everyone has to
concentrate hard and be ready to launch when it tries to run
away.
Once there were about eight people catching a juvenile called
Princhester. Juveniles are black with some blue and green
feathers. Princhester was clever and hid in a prickly bush. We
all surrounded the bush and two of us slowly climbed
in. Princhester was so well camouflaged that she couldn't be
seen ... until she tried to escape!
Luckily, George was fast enough to catch her. It's a great feeling
when everyone works together to finally catch a particularly
cunning Takahe like Princhester.
What animal would you like to have in your
backyard?
A couple of goats - so that I don't have to mow the
lawn!
What animal would you most like to see in the wild?
Penguins in Antarctica.
Which animal do you relate to the most?
Turtles - what's the hurry? I usually take ages to
get ready for anything, especially in the morning. I would
rather get up early and go slowly than be rushed. I think turtles
would agree.
What do you love most about your job?
I love watching the chicks growing and learning. They are so
small, cute and dependent when they first hatch. Their legs
and feet get big quite fast and then their bodies catch up, so they
look funny for a while.
It's always exciting when each one learns to eat independently,
instead of from the puppet beak. As they get older, each chick's
personality comes through.
Some chicks boss the others around or steal their food. Others are
quieter and like having the occasional cuddle. I like being able to
recognise each chick by their behaviour, rather than their coloured
leg band. I also love choosing a special name for each
chick.
What would you change about your job?
Sometimes cleaning up after the chicks is messy and gross. They do
really smelly poos if they have eaten worms or moths! But it
isn't that bad and you soon get used to it. There actually isn't
anything that I don't like doing. Except for the couple of
times that I've been shocked by the electric fences! Owww!
If you could make one change to help save endangered
animals what would it be?
To limit roads and development in some special areas of native bush
in New Zealand that endangered animals live in. This might
help keep predators like possums and stoats out which will help the
endangered animals.
Advice for future keepers?
Try to learn as much as you can about the animals you
work with. Do your best to make a difference for each
individual. Most importantly, have fun!
Tell us an animal joke
What do you get when you cross a parrot with a shark?
A bird that will talk your ear off.
