Just under 100 of New Zealand’s most endangered parrot, the kakapo remain but hopefully that number will increase thanks to the 26 hand-reared chicks that are returning to New Zealand. The baby chicks will spend six more weeks on a predator free island, Codfish Island living in an outdoor pen before returning to their natural habitat.
Kakapo lovers are depending on the 26 hand reared baby chicks born just 90 days ago to increase the dwindling kakapo number to 126 birds. Weighing in at nearly 5 pounds the kakapo is heaviest parrot in the world and it can’t fly at all. It’s also the only nocturnal parrot and as a result often called the owl parrot. Kakapo have the ability to completely freeze up to fend off its ancient predator, the now extinct giant eagle. Breeding is difficult with these parrots that only mate every 3 to 4 years.
Read the entire article here: World’s Most Endangered Parrot Population Increasing.
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