Department of Conservation rangers weigh a juvenile toroa (northern royal albatross) at Taiaroa Head on Otago Peninsula.
Chairman of the headland’s governing body, Te Pōari a Pukekura, William Karaitiana said the group’s goal was to stengthen the mauri (life-supporting capacity) of the ecosystem of the special place.
Rangers have been weighing and banding chicks around the headland in past weeks.
A chick weighing 10.2kg initially took the record for the heaviest of the season, but was surpassed by a 5-month-old chick weighing 11kg — about the same as a 1-year-old human baby.
PHOTO: SUPPLIED
"It will take a collective and combined effort of groups, whānau and organisations at Pukekura.
"For today, these healthy toroa chick weights recorded during Doc staff’s mahi is a good sign for the restoration of the mauri of the ecosystem."
