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Kākāpō population surpasses 300 for first time in 75 years
New Zealand's kākāpō population has exceeded 300 birds for the first time in 75 years, after a record breeding season produced 90 chicks. Conservation officials credited a bumper rimu berry crop and decades of recovery efforts.
By Tertius News AI Desk2 distinct · 2 mastheads · 2 articlesVersion 1Coverage Published
The population of the world's heaviest parrot, the kākāpō, has surpassed 300 birds for the first time in 75 years, after a record breeding season. Ninety chicks were officially added to the population on 1 September, bringing the total to 325, according to the New Zealand Conservation Department.
Deidre Vercoe, the department's kākāpō recovery operations manager, said in a statement that the last time the population is thought to have exceeded 300 birds may have been as long as 75 years ago. "We had a four-year gap between breeding seasons, so it's fantastic to finally see the population increase after all that time," she said.
The breeding boom was triggered by a mass fruiting of rimu trees, a native New Zealand species that produces berries every two to four years. Kākāpō breed only in those years, making repopulation naturally slow. This year, after a four-year wait, a bountiful harvest prompted record breeding.
Vercoe noted the significance of the milestone, saying: "In the early years of recovery, it took 16 years to produce that many chicks." The Kakapo Recovery Programme began in 1995 with a population of just 51 birds, including 20 females. Since then, the species has been through 13 breeding seasons, with efforts focused on overcoming challenges linked to low genetic diversity, including infertility and poor hatching success.
Today, there are three kākāpō breeding populations, all on predator-free islands off New Zealand's South Island. The birds, which are nocturnal and flightless, were once abundant across the country, but their numbers plummeted after humans introduced predators such as cats and stoats. By the mid-1900s, the species was nearly extinct.
The youngest chick of the 2026 breeding season, a female named Awarua-A3, hatched on 30 March and is now 150 days old, a milestone at which chicks are considered independent enough to be added to the official tally. More than 100,000 people watched a live stream of a kākāpō during the breeding season.
Despite the record, conservationists warn that the kākāpō remains critically endangered. Modelling indicates the next breeding season could occur as soon as 2028.
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Framing: Celebrates the record baby boom as a recovery milestone for the heaviest parrot species — Upbeat and celebratory, highlighting the record success while acknowledging the species remains critically endangered
Facts Included:
90 chicks added to the kakapo population
total population now 325 birds
New Zealand Conservation Department announced the record on Tuesday
the youngest chick is 150 days old
kakapos are the heaviest parrot species, with males weighing up to 9 pounds
kakapos are among the longest-living birds, reaching 60–90 years
Deidre Vercoe, manager of the kakapo recovery operations, said in early years it took 16 years to produce 90 chicks
Kakapo Recovery Programme began in 1995 with 51 birds, including 20 females
the species has been through 13 breeding seasons since 1995
challenges include low genetic diversity, infertility, and poor hatching success
each kakapo is fitted with a radio transmitter
kakapo numbers plummeted after human arrival due to hunting, predators, and habitat loss
conservation efforts began in 1894 but the species nearly went extinct by the mid-1900s
human colonization introduced predators such as cats and rats
kakapos live on protected offshore islands
they depend on Rimu tree berries, which bear fruit every two to four years
Tāne Davis of the kakapo recovery group said success is not just in the numbers
the program trialed approaches to reduce intensive management, such as fewer egg and chick checks and reducing supplementary feeding
Framing: Highlights the population rise and the record number of chicks, framing it as a positive conservation milestone.
Facts Included:
The population of the world's heaviest parrot, the kākāpō, has surpassed 300 birds for the first time in 75 years.
Ninety chicks were officially added to the population on 1 September, pushing the total to 325.
Deidre Vercoe, the conservation department's kākāpō recovery operations manager, said the last time the population exceeded 300 may have been 75 years ago.
Kākāpō breed only every two to four years when rimu trees produce large numbers of berries.
The recovery programme was established in 1995 with a population of just 51 birds.
There are three kākāpō breeding populations on predator-free islands off the South Island.
This year, after a four-year wait, a bountiful harvest of rimu berries prompted record breeding.
Vercoe noted that in early recovery, it took 16 years to produce that many chicks.
Kākāpō can live between 60 and 80 years and weigh up to 4kg.
More than 100,000 people watched a live stream of a kākāpō during breeding.
The youngest chick of the 2026 breeding season was female Awarua-A3, hatched on 30 March.
Modelling indicated the next breeding season could occur as soon as 2028.
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Claim
Confidence
Status
ClaimThe kākāpō population has surpassed 300 birds for the first time in 75 years.
ClaimDeidre Vercoe, the conservation department's kākāpō recovery operations manager, said the last time the population exceeded 300 may have been as long as 75 years ago.