A New Zealand parrot swiped a GoPro and filmed its great escape

A New Zealand family was treated to an unexpected bird’s-eye view of a trail they had just hiked in Fiordland National Park, South Island, after a cheeky parrot grabbed their GoPro and flew away.

The Verheul family, from Dunedin in the southeast, had just finished exploring part of the Kepler Track when a kea, a native New Zealand parrot, snatched their GoPro and soared over the forest.

They had activated the camera to film a group of inquisitive parrots that had gathered outside the hut where they were staying, Alex Verheul shared in an interview with broadcaster Seven Sharp on Thursday.

But one mischievous kea took off with the GoPro, capturing sweeping aerial shots of the landscape before landing and curiously pecking at the camera with its beak.

At one point, the parrot can be seen tearing a piece of plastic from the GoPro's casing.

Miraculously, the GoPro endured the entire escapade – a family member heard the commotion and rushed toward the squawking to retrieve it.

Fortunately, as Verheul explained to Seven Sharp, the bird had flown in a direct line, making it easier for them to track it down.

"We just followed the noise, headed in that direction, and saw them perched in a tree. They must have heard us coming and dropped the GoPro. My son then checked the rocks, and there it was, still recording," said Verheul.

"I transferred the footage to my phone… It was incredible. Completely unexpected," Verheul added.

The following day, she mentioned, a kea swiped a cup from a backpack as well.

Dinogo has contacted Verheul for additional comments.