New Zealand kakapo population reaches high after breeding success

Conservationists in New Zealand welcomed a record 90 kakapo chicks this year, increasing the total population of the world’s heaviest parrot to 325 individuals.

The kakapo, native only to New Zealand, faced a steep decline starting in the 13th century due to hunting and introduced predators like rats and stoats. By 1995, only 51 kakapo remained, including just 20 females. Recovery efforts beginning in the 1980s have slowly increased the population.

This year’s breeding success was driven by a large crop of rimu tree fruits, a key food source for the birds, which typically breed only every two to four years. Of 258 eggs laid, 90 chicks survived to 150 days old, the point at which they are considered independent. Officials are now focused on expanding predator-free habitats to accommodate the growing population, as current breeding locations on Codfish, Anchor, and Chalky Islands are becoming crowded.

They also reduced human intervention during the breeding season by using remote technology to monitor nests and limiting supplementary feeding, aiming for a future where the birds require less assistance. Conservationists anticipate the next breeding season around 2028.