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Kereru, the New Zealand Pigeon

10,000 Birds

The New Zealand Pigeon , often known by its Maori name Kereru , or colloquially as woodpigeon, is a large and conspicuous part of New Zealand’s avifauna. As pigeons go it is very large, measuring up to 50 cm, and it is one of two species of pigeon endemic to New Zealand.

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Sperm Whales in Kaikoura

10,000 Birds

What put this once small fishing town on the map was not birds but mammals, specifically whales and dolphins. The reason Kaikoura is such a great place to see albatrosses and whales is one and the same, and the same reason indeed that Monterrey in California is a great place to watch whales and albatross.

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New Zealand, Australia to Conduct Whale Research Too

Critter News

New Zealand and Australia are joining forces to carry out research on whales using non-lethal methods, in an attempt to challenge Japan's hunting programme. Eighteen scientists will set sail for Antarctica next month to study minke, humpback and blue whale populations. It's non-lethal.

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Labour Urges New Zealand to Support Australia's Call to End Whaling

Critter News

We just need to end this useless practice of whaling. Tags: australia whales new zealand whaling. I hope they do it.

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Kaikoura stricken

10,000 Birds

One of the ships helping the stricken town is the USS Sampson, the first US ship to visit New Zealand since the 1980s. Kaikoura is New Zealand’s finest birding destination, and seeing it brought low is a terrible blow. Sperm Whales are a huge draw, literally! Cape Petrels aren’t rare, but are fun.

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Japan Set for Whale Hunt Despite Earthquake and Tsunami

Critter News

From Radio New Zealand. The ABC reports five crews from the town of Ayukawa have joined the hunt, even though the tsunami destroyed Ayukawa Whaing's storage facility and carried its fleet of three whaling vessels hundreds of metres inland, where they remain. Nothing stops the Japanese whalers!

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Kaikoura in the Summer

10,000 Birds

Kaikoura, in New Zealand’s South Island, is arguably the best place in the world to see albatrosses and petrels. The canyon also brings Dusky Dolphins and Sperm Whales close in, and has turned Kaikoura from a sleepy fishing village on the Picton to Christchurch road into a premier ecotourism site.

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