New Zealand king shag
|
New Zealand king shag
Te Kawau-a-Toru was a sacred bird – a king shag, also known as a cormorant – loyal to Kupe. Possessing a huge wingspan, he was reputed to be ‘the eye of the ancestor’ – a special bird with insights into ancient knowledge. Kupe also had a pet pigeon, Rupe, who is said to have found so much food in the South Island’s forests that he neglected Kupe and remained there.
About this item
Department of Conservation
Reference: 10038112
Photograph by Andy Cox
This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.
