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Disabled Kea Bruce Becomes Alpha Male Through Jousting

4/20/2026

30 6 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

In 2021, Bruce, a disabled kea from New Zealand, gained attention for creating a prosthetic beak.
He recently became the alpha male of his group by learning to joust.
Research in Current Biology, cited by cognitive biologist Alice Auersperg, shows the resilience of animals with disabilities.
Bruce is a 13-year-old kea, a species whose population has declined due to past government bounties and ongoing human threats.

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Story summary

In 2021, Bruce, a disabled kea from New Zealand, gained attention for creating a prosthetic beak.
He recently became the alpha male of his group by learning to joust.
Research in Current Biology, cited by cognitive biologist Alice Auersperg, shows the resilience of animals with disabilities.
Bruce is a 13-year-old kea, a species whose population has declined due to past government bounties and ongoing human threats.