Please help fund treatment for a sick kea, in memory of Sharlotte.

Once upon a time there was a girl called Sharlotte. She loved animals, and was fascinated by kea when she saw them at Rob Roy glacier in Mount Aspiring National Park, New Zealand. For 18 wonderful years I was fortunate enough to be able to call Sharlotte my wife.

Very sadly, Sharlotte died of cancer in 2018, aged 41. She is greatly missed. Thanks to DOC and the Kea Conservation Trust, a kea has been named in Sharlotte's memory. 'Kea Sharlotte' is out there somewhere in Fiordland, but a test result showed that unfortunately she has very high levels of lead in her blood, which will threaten her survival. Lead is a toxic heavy metal, and is present throughout the kea habitat, in roof flashings, paint, nail heads etc.

Hopefully Kea Sharlotte can be recaptured for treatment (please keep a look out for her if you're in Fiordland - she has a band with a black letter 'G' on a green background on her leg).

I'm trying to raise funds so that a kea with lead poisoning can be treated and released back into the wild to live a normal life. It might not be Kea Sharlotte, but if we can help one of these beautiful, endangered birds to survive, then it will be a fitting memorial for (my) Sharlotte, and something that I know would have made her happy.

I'd like to help a kea needing treatment for lead poisoning.