Welcome to Kaarakin Black Cockatoo Conservation Centre

Kaarakin Black Cockatoo Conservation Centre rescues and rehabilitates Western Australian native wild black cockatoos with a view to their re-release to native flocks, as well as to restore critical black cockatoo habitats and to educate the public about these iconic native birds.

We rescue wild black cockatoos in distress – often having been shot, hit by cars, fallen out of a nest or attacked by bees/cats or other birds – and rehabilitate them in our aviaries on site in the Perth Hills. Sadly, many of the birds we rescue to do not survive. The ones that do make it through their initial veterinary treatment at Perth Zoo come back to us for intensive care by our dedicated volunteers.

After their treatment, many birds will be able to be released back into the wild. Other birds which are permanently disabled join our walking wounded birds or our breed-for-release program. Candidates for release are then placed in our large flight aviary to strengthen their flight muscles – like a lap pool for injured cockatoos.

Finally comes the release day. Before release, birds are given the once over and declared healthy. In conjunction with the Department of Environment and Conservation, Kaarakin identifies the area for release, catches the birds and transports them to the release site. With a small ceremony, birds’ cage doors are opened and they fly out to meet wild birds of the area.

Some black cockatoos come to us that are not even wild! Surrendering of pet birds, seizures of illegal pets and wild capture of unusually friendly birds (escaped pets!) happens quite frequently.