There were two Bloomfields bringing comfort to people during lockdown.
While many looked to director-general of health Ashley Bloomfield’s daily updates for peace of mind, some Dunedin vets were seeking comfort from a kea of the same name.
The avian Bloomfield travelled from Fiordland to the Dunedin Wildlife Hospital during Level 4, after being found in a ‘‘very poorly’’ condition.
A post on the hospital’s Facebook page said he was a ‘‘wonderful, interactive and fun patient to care for’’ and had given his vets team a lot of ‘‘joy’’ during the difficult times.
In honour of that and in recognition of the ‘‘hard mahi’’ from Dr Bloomfield and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern throughout the pandemic, the team decided on his name.
The team felt Bloomfield was even more ‘‘fitting’’ given Monday’s announcement that the nation was ready to move to Alert Level 1.
‘‘He was pretty quiet and spent a lot of time observing us ... but eventually he moved into more typical behaviour.’’
That behaviour was ‘‘destroying everything in his closure’’.
‘‘It was daily carnage,’’ Dr Argilla said.
Senior wildlife veterinary nurse Angelina Martelli said Bloomfield was also a ‘‘pickier’’ eater, only eating vegetables and nectar mixed for him.
‘‘He did not want anything to do with fruit.’’
Much like the nation had from the pandemic, Bloomfield recovered.
He was eventually able to be released after his rehabilitation at the Dunedin Botanic Garden Aviary but not before receiving some ‘‘bling’’, also known as an identification band.
A transmitter, provided by the Kea Conservation Trust, was also placed on Bloomfield, enabling the team which had helped him to check in see how he was going.
The Facebook post said it was a ‘‘wonderful success story for this bird, and what a wonderful success for our country’’.
Trampers in Fiordland may also be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of Bloomfield, who is a nationally endangered bird, is identifiable by a black H on bands on his left leg.
Paying for specialist staff and equipment in order to care for the kea came at a cost of $2000 for the hospital.
Wildlife Hospital Trust co-chairman Steve Walker said, ‘‘Covid-19 has been tough on organisations like the Wildlife Hospital as we are very dependent on public donations.’’
People wanting to help cover the costs of caring for sick wildlife could contribute through the hospital’s website or Facebook page.
• New Zealand remained Covid-19-free for the 18th successive day yesterday.
