The Great Kiwi Adventure

Last week, Sarah's class visited Zealandia Wildlife Sanctuary in Wellington. They arrived at 9:00 AM on a sunny Tuesday morning. Their guide, Mike, explained that Zealandia is home to many native New Zealand birds and animals that are protected from predators by a special fence.

The first animal they spotted was a takahē, a large flightless bird with bright blue and green feathers. Sarah was amazed to learn that takahē were once thought to be extinct but were rediscovered in 1948. Next, they heard the distinctive call of a kākā parrot echoing through the trees.

The highlight of the trip came when they visited the tuatara enclosure. Mike told them that tuatara are living dinosaurs that have been around for 200 million years. Sarah watched in fascination as one tuatara slowly moved across a warm rock, basking in the sunshine.

Before leaving, the class planted native seedlings to help restore the sanctuary's forest. Sarah felt proud knowing she had helped create a better home for New Zealand's unique wildlife.