Events
Sirocco Kakapo at Orokonui
Sirocco Kakapo visited Orokonui in Sept 2011.
He will return again for a limited season soon.
Add your name to the waiting list NOW for Sirocco's next visit!
See 3News Campbell LIVE footage of SIrocco's trip to Orokonui here
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Spend an initimate evening with the strangest parrot in the world!
SIROCCO AFTER DARK TOURS
SOLD OUT!
1hr Guided Tours are available between 7-Midnight (depending on sunset times)
ONLY UNTIL September 26 SOLD OUT!
There are a limited number of After Dark Tours available every evening until September 26.
During your After Dark Tour you will watch short DVD on Orokonui Ecosanctuary in Te Wharekura - the Otago Daily Times Learning Centre, recieve information about our predator exclusion fence, a short introduction to and a brief history of the kakapo before the tour from our experienced guides.
You will then be guided on a short brisk walk (wheelchair accessible) into the Orokonui Ecosanctuary to the Ryman Healthcare Kakapo Enclosure to see Sirocco – the cheeky kakapo.
Your viewing time at the enclosure with Sirocco will be approximately 25 minutes. You will need to be prepared to stand for the some of the time and possibly shift in order to get the best views and to ensure that everyone gets the opportunity to see Sirocco up close.
Scott Mouat's film 'The Unnatural History of the Kakapo' is screening in the Atrium of the Orokonui Visitor Centre throughout the evening. The story of the world's rarest and strangest wild parrot.
Wear warm clothing and bring a torch, jacket or rain coat and a warm hat if necessary.
Cameras are allowed however there is STRICTLY NO flash photography.
Do not bring excess baggage with you this will not be allowed behind the fence into the Ecosanctuary itself. All items to be carried need to be checked before entry into the Ecosanctuary.
It is important to be on time so please be at Orokonui Ecosanctuary 10-15 minutes before your tour start time. Allow 30 minutes travel time from the Dunedin CBD (Octagon).
Please check our website on the day of your tour in case of cancellation and you must provide a contact phone number in case a last minute unforeseen cancellation is required.
| Dates | Tour 1 | Tour 2 | Tour 3 | |
| Sep 19-24 | 8.00pm FULL | 8.35pm FULL | 9.10pm FULL | |
| Sep 25-26 | 9.00pm FULL | 9.35pm FULL | 10.10pmFULL |
| Dates | Tour 4 | Tour 5 |
| Fri 23 | FULL | FULL |
| Sat 24 | FULL | FULL |
Please ensure you arrive 15 minutes before tour start times above
| Adult (19years +) | $45.00 |
| Child* (5-18years) | $22.50 |
| Family (2 Adults 3 Children) | $112.50 |
*Toddlers 4 and under are FREE
The money raised from ticket sales go to covering all of the costs associated with the event. If there are any profits, these will be split evenly between the Orokonui Ecosanctuary Trust, and the Kakapo Recovery Trust to help fund their conservation programmes.
Sirocco After Dark Itinerary
| Guide Talk at Visitors Centre | 10mins |
| Guided Walk to Kakapo Enclosure | 15mins |
| Viewing Sirocco in Kakapo Enclosure | 25mins |
| Guided return walk to Visitors Centre | 15mins |
Sunset times are as follows: Sep 18 6.29pm Sep 29 7.42pm
Limited to 25 people per tour. SOLD OUT!
Add your name to the 2012 waiting list NOW!
Online RESERVATIONS/BOOKINGS are by email ONLY.
Payment can then be made on arrival or prior by credit card via phone.
Email info@orokonui.org.nz or p. +64 3 482 1755
SIROCCO KAKAPO - FAST FACTS
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Sirocco is named after the hot North African Desert wind
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His home is on Maud Island (Cook Strait) where he is often visited by school groups
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He was born in 1997 he is fourteen years old.
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He suffered a respiratory illness at three weeks old whilst being raised by his mother Zephyr.
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He had to be hand-raised as a chick, and through this developed a preference for human rather than kakapo company. He was the first male kakapo for this to happen too.
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Older age doesn’t seem to have increased his interest in other kakapo yet; he doesn’t associate with them at all, and instead he booms in the presence of humans.
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Sirocco had his first public engagement in spring 2006, on Ulva Island, near Oban (Rakiura/Stewart Island) and has returned there in 2008 and 2009
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In September 2009, Sirocco visited to Auckland Zoo to celebrate Conservation Week.
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In October 2009, when the BBC series "Last Chance to See" featuring Stephen Fry and Mark Cawardine aired in the UK. A YouTube clip of Sirocco getting 'up close and personal' with presenter Mark Cawardine gained more than 700 000 views in just one week!
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SIROCCO ON YOUTUBE
See Sirocco 'getting up close & personal' in 2009 on the BBC 'Last Chance to See' Doco below
Become a friend LIKE Sirocco on Facebook
Sirocco visits Zealandia in Wellington
After spending September at Orokonui Sirocco follows the Rugby World Cup crowds north and visits Zealandia - Karori Wildlife Sanctuary in October (and possibly November) 2011.
KAKAPO - FAST FACTS
The kakapo is the rarest, heaviest and only nocturnal parrot in the world, and is endemic to New Zealand. It was once one of our most common birds – found throughout our three main islands. Today it is confined to Codfish Island (Whenua Hou) Island and Anchor Island.
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Kakapo is Maori for ‘parrot of the night’.
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Hunting, habitat destruction, and introduced predators brought the species to the edge of extinction.
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In 1995, kakapo numbers declined to just 50 birds. The Kakapo Recovery Programme, has seen the kakapo population increase to 131 birds in 2011.
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The kakapo is the only parrot in the world to have a ‘lek’ mating system – which involves the male attracting females by his booming call. Males create elaborate track and bowl systems in the scrub, and call from the ‘bowls’ to help transmit the sound of the low ‘boom’ they make.
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A male kakapo’s booming call can be heard up to 5km away. One was recorded making 17,000 booms in one night!
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Kakapo only breed every three to four years, and breeding is dependent on the masting (fruiting) of the rimu tree. The rimu tree’s berries are the chosen food parents feed their chicks
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Kakapo are herbivores and eat a variety of roots, leaves and fruit.
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Rare Chance to see rare bird - Sirocco at Orokonui
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Read the Orokonui Media Release here
KAKAPO ENCLOSURE
Sirocco will be living in the new RYMAN Healthcare Kakapo Enclosure at Orokonui.
Many thanks to Simon, Tom, Martyn and the team at RYMAN Healthcare for their community spirit, generosity and assistance in supplying the materials to build Sirocco Kakapo his new home away from home.
KAKAPO RECOVERY
For more information on the Kakapo Recovery Programme