The bird is back

Following a special ceremony on Tuesday in Atiu, 27 Lorikeets, like this, from Rimataara in Tahiti Nui were released into the wild.
Attending the ceremony from Rarotonga were:
n Minister for the Environment Kete Ioane,
n Vaitoti Tupa, Director of Environment,
n and Environmentalists Ian Karika and Jacqui Evans.
Gerald McCormack, of Natural Heritage, and Roger Malcolm, of Atiu, accompanied the birds from Rimataara along with scientists from San Diego Zoo, who monitored the transfer. The special ceremony was also attended by most of the people on Atiu.
Last Monday dignitaries from Rimataara led by their Mayor flew courtesy of Air Raro to Atiu. Also on the plane was Ada Rongomatane Ariki, of Atiu.
The birds themselves were transferred by air on Tuesday also by Air Raro. Direct flights were made in order to prevent the likelihood of any diseases that would be harmful to the birds being picked up in Papeete or Rarotonga.
McCormack and Malcolm first embarked on the project to transfer Lorikeets from Rimataara in 1992.
The Lorikeet used to be plentiful in Atiu and other islands of the southern group but became extinct at the turn of the century possibly because of their feathers being used for ceremonial costumes.
According to McCormack, Lorikeet feathers adorned cloaks worn by chiefs who met Captain Cook.
Rimataara is located in the south of Tahiti Nui and below Mangaia. It is the only island in the Pacific where the bird is now found.
It was protected by the Queen of Rimataara Tamaiva in the last century.

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