Beloved resident of Punanga Manu o Te Anau/Te Anau Bird Sanctuary, Tumbles the takahē has died. 

He was peacefully put to sleep on New Year’s Eve 2020, after park rangers found him with a “badly injured leg”.

Te Anau Bird Sanctuary staff said Tumbles was “one of the sanctuary’s most loved takahe,” and the whole team were sad to announce his death yesterday (January 21).

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A DOC spokesperson said that Tumbles belonged to one of the last cohorts of takahē to come from eggs sourced from the wild population in the Murchison Mountains of Fiordland.

Like other wild-sourced eggs at that time, he was artificially incubated, and hand raised with a glove puppet to prevent him imprinting on the rangers who were raising him, said the spokesperson.

Tumbles and his partner Kawa were infertile but proved to be very successful foster parents.

“In 2010 Tumbles came to the Te Anau Bird Sanctuary with his partner Kawa where his relaxed nature and fondness for food made him a star at daily feeding time tours.”

“In 2014 the pair raised the first chick to be hatched in Te Anau for 20 years. Since then, they have raised a chick most years. 

At the time of his death this season’s chick was 10 weeks old. 

“Happily, Kawa is doing a great job as a solo mum and we hope being kept busy by a hungry youngster will stop her from feeling lonely while a new mate is found for her,” the spokesperson said. 

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Takahē live to about 15 years old in the wild and up to around 20-22 years in captivity.

Generally, takahē live longer in captivity where they have supplementary food and access to health checks. 

Tumbles was 16 when he died. 

A DOC spokesperson said there were now five takahē at the sanctuary in total – one pair with two juveniles, and Kawa (Tumbles’ widow) with another juvenile. 

The three juveniles will leave late March/early April for ‘tussock training school’ at Burwood, before being released into the wild.

Tumbles the Takahē 14/12/2004 – 31/12/2020.