New Zealand's kakapo begins breeding again

New Zealand's critically endangered kakapo started breeding last week for the first time in four years, the Department of Conservation said. There are 236 kakapo remaining across three remote island populations, including 83 breeding-age females.

The kakapo, a critically endangered flightless parrot in New Zealand, began breeding last week for the first time in four years, the Department of Conservation said. Conservation work for the species has been coordinated through the Kakapo Recovery Program since 1995, when the population numbered 51 birds. The birds now live in three breeding populations on remote southern islands and breed only every two to four years. Officials reported this season as especially anticipated after the gap since 2022. Key facts: - The Department of Conservation reported the breeding season began last week, the first since 2022. - There are 236 kakapo remaining across three breeding populations, with 83 females of breeding age. - The program began in 1995 with Ngāi Tahu when 51 kakapo remained, and by 2022 numbers had risen to 252. Sixteen birds died over the past four years, the report said. - This is the 13th mating season in the past 30 years; kakapo typically breed every two to four years. - Deidre Vercoe, the Department of Conservation's kakapo recovery operations manager, said more mating is expected over the next month and teams are preparing for what might be the biggest breeding season since the program began. - Tane Davis, a Ngāi Tahu representative on the recovery program, said there is hope kakapo may one day thrive more widely on the South Island. Summary: Breeding activity has resumed after a four-year pause, and the first chicks are expected to hatch in mid-February. Officials say they are preparing for further mating in the coming month and aim to build toward healthier, more self-sustaining kakapo populations over time.