Death by chocolate: A fatal problem for an inquisitive wild parrot

Abstract

CASE HISTORY: An adult male kea (Nestor notabilis) in good body condition was found dead at Aoraki/Mt Cook Village, in the Southern Alps of New Zealand. The bird had previously been involved in behavioural tests of problem-solving ability.

CLINICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS: The bird had substantial subcutaneous and abdominal reserves of fat. The crop contained 20 g of what appeared to be dark chocolate; a conservative estimate of the dose of methylxanthines ingested by the bird was 250 mg/kg theobromine, 20 mg/kg caffeine and 3 mg/kg theophylline. Histopathological examination revealed acute degenerative changes to hepatocytes, renal tubules, and cerebrocortical neurons.

DIAGNOSIS: Acute combination methylxanthine toxicity after opportunistic ingestion of pchocolate.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This is the first report of the pathological findings of methylxanthine toxicity in a wild parrot, and illustrates the need to ensure that kea are protected from the toxic by-products of human habitation, and the difficulties in ensuring this against a neophilic, inquisitive and innovative parrot.

KEY WORDS:

• Chocolate toxicity
• caffeine
• theobromine
• theophylline
• parrot
• innovation
• kea

Acknowledgements

This study was carried out with the financial support of the Department of Conservation. Behavioural data have been used with permission from GK Gajdon of the Kea Research Project, University of Vienna, Austria.