Kakapo Recovery
How the Kakapo Almost Died Out and How We Saved It
The Kakapo, Strigops habroptilus, a flightless parrot of New Zealand, very nearly became extinct. A recovery program is bringing it back.
The flightless Kakapo (Strigops habroptilus), a parrot that one lived throughout the islands of New Zealand, began a precipitous decline when humans arrived. Humans hunted the birds for food, for collections, and for decoration. Humans also destroyed the birds’ habitat and introduced dogs, cats, rats, stoats and other predators to the ecosystem. The Kakapo, extremely vulnerable on the ground, seemed doomed. Here’s a timeline of the birds’ recent fortunes:
1970 – It’s feared that the Kakapo is extinct.
1974 – Two living males are discovered in Fiordland. In subsequent years, a few small isolated kakapo colonies are discovered – all of the birds are male.
1976 – The known population of Kakapo consists of 18 male birds.
1977 – About 200 Kakapo are discovered on Stewart Island.
1980 – Females are confirmed in the Stewart Island population.
1980 to 1981 – Extensive research reveals the breeding habits, range, diet, and behavior of Kakapo.
1981 – Two kakapo nests are discovered on Stewart Island.
1981 – A rapid decline in the Stewart Island population (more than 50 percent per year) is shown to be due to predation by feral cats– efforts to move the birds begin. By 1992, 61 of the Stewart Island Kakapo remain alive, living on four other islands: Maud, Little Barrier (Hauturu), Codfish (Whenua Hou) and Mana.
1981 to 1994 – Almost fifty percent of chicks are killed by Polynesian rats.
1989 – The Kakapo Recovery Plan is implemented with sponsorship from Comalco (NZ) Ltd.
1992 – A handful of females breed on Codfish Island but only one chick survives.
1999 – The known population of Kakapo consists of 62 birds.
2002 – 24 kakapo chicks bring the total number of Kakapo to 86
2005 – Chalky Island (Te Kakahu) and Anchor Island are substituted for Little Barrier (Hauturu) and Mana Islands as kakapo santuaries.
2006 – XL Results Foundation makes a $5000NZ donation toward an artificial insemination program for Kakapo.
2008 – The rimu tree, favorite food of the kakapo, is expected to flower and fruit prolifically. Abundant fruiting of the rimu usually results in a bumper breeding year for Kakapo as well.
Kakapo are making slow progress but with such a small population, and because they breed so slowly, they are still extremely vulnerable. Hopefully, they will continue to increase and eventually establish healthy, stable populations on their island sanctuaries.
Related content:
The Mysterious Extinct Dodo Bird
Cats, Birds, and Ascension Island
Sources for this article:
Kakapo.net The Fabulous Kakapo
Wikipedia. “Kakapo.”
XL Results Foundation. "Waiting for Richard Henry"
Perrins, Christopher ed. Firefly Encyclopedia of Birds. Buffalo: Firefly Books, 2003.
