Kea

A national treasure in New Zealand, this breathtakingly gorgeous mountain parrot is depicted in literature, old Maori myths, and on currency. Kea is another name for a member of the Scouts of New Zealand who is between the ages of 5 and 8. It's a widespread pest as well.

The kea stands on the backs of sheep and rips out their loins with its beak before devouring them whole. In 2009, one farmer asserted that "kea strikes" had caused the loss of up to 30 sheep in just two months. He discovered the "entire intestinal cavity open" in one horrifying instance.

For people from New Zealand, it is a puzzle. The bird is protected under the highest level of wildlife conservation, on the one hand. Lamb, on the other hand, is a major export. To shoot keas, the government currently issues individual licences, but they must be "caught in the act."