Kakapo

September 2, 2023

To safeguard the kakapo – a unique New Zealand parrot – the genomes of nearly all remaining individuals have been sequenced, providing vital information for conservation management.

ABOUT KAKAPO

Scientific name– Strigops habroptila
It is the heaviest parrot in the world, with some males exceeding 3 kilograms, and is thought to have the longest lifespan, up to 90 years.
It is the only parrot species that can’t fly, instead climbing trees or foraging on the ground to find food like nuts and seeds.

A lek is an aggregation of males that gather to engage in competitive displays that may entice visiting females who are surveying prospective partners for mating.

It is the only lek-breeding parrot species in the world.
The green-coloured birds were once widespread throughout New Zealand, but now only 250- odd individuals are left that are managed by New Zealand’s Department of Conservation in partnership with Maori groups on five predator-free islands.
- Predators include cats and dogs
They only breed when rimu trees put out masses of fruit (rimu mast years) – every two to four years.
Threats: Predators, disease, genetic inbreeding, infertility
IUCN red list status – ‘critically endangered’