environment1 month ago
Kākāpō Population Hits 325 After Record Breeding Season
The kākāpō, the world’s heaviest parrot, has reached a population of 325 birds for the first time in 75 years. This milestone was achieved after 90 chicks were added to the count on 1 September 2026, following a record breeding season triggered by the mass fruiting of native rimu trees. The recovery programme, established in 1995 with only 51 birds, has successfully navigated challenges related to genetic diversity and infertility. Conservationists now anticipate the next breeding cycle could occur as early as 2028, marking a significant shift from the previous four-year gap between breeding seasons.