Ready for flight home

Auckland Zoo senior vet Richard Jakob-Hoff's arm is a handy perch for kakapo chick Hananui 2. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Kakapo chick Hananui 2 is all set to return home after recovering from a foot infection.

The 5-month-old female chick was brought to the zoo last month after injuring her foot.

She has been at the zoo's Centre for Conservation Medicine and will return to her home on Codfish Island, 3km east of Stewart Island, today.

Hananui 2 became known to vet staff for being very vocal when picked up and when begging for food.

Auckland Zoo senior vet Dr Richard Jakob-Hoff said she was "very mischievous and curious".

"She likes to explore everything and like a child exploring the world, everything has to be put into her mouth."

Hananui 2 is one of 36 kakapo chicks bred on Codfish Island this season.

Three died and seven stayed on Codfish Island with their mothers. The other 25 went to Invercargill to be hand-reared and are now back on the island.

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