Environment & Climate
New Zealand kākāpō population surpasses 300 for first time in 75 years
A record 90 chicks were added to the critically endangered flightless parrot species following a bumper fruiting of native trees.
The short version
- The total population of kākāpō reached 325 after 90 chicks were officially added on Sept. 1.
- This marks the first time the critically endangered species has numbered over 300 birds in 75 years.
- The surge followed a four-year breeding gap and was triggered by a heavy harvest of native rimu tree berries.
- Conservation teams are utilizing predictive modeling to prepare for a potential next breeding season in 2028.
Key facts
- The addition of 90 fledged chicks on Sept. 1, 2026, brought the total kākāpō population to 325 birds.[The Guardian]
- The population had not exceeded 300 individuals for an estimated 75 years.[The Guardian]
- Kākāpō breed only every two to four years, coinciding with the mass fruiting of native rimu trees.[The Guardian]
- The kākāpō recovery program began in 1995 with just 51 surviving birds after invasive predators depleted the wild population.[The Guardian]
- All living kākāpō reside across three predator-free island sanctuaries located off New Zealand's South Island.[The Guardian]
What remains uncertain
- Conservation modeling suggests the next breeding event could occur as early as 2028, though exact timing depends on future rimu tree fruiting cycles.[The Guardian]
Sources
- Kākāpō rising: 90 chicks swell population of the world’s heaviest parrotThe Guardian - World