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Kakapo
Society

The Kakapo Then and Now

The Kakapo is an fantastic bird!

  • The history of the Kakapo is a story of drama, despair and hope.
  • It is a parrot that can only stay on land. It has lived in New Zealand for thousands of years.
  • The Kakapo is one of the world's most remarkable birds!
kakapo-in-a-forest

When humans came to New Zealand, they brought stoats, cats, rats and dogs. These predators caused the Kakapo population to almost become extinct. By 1995, there were only 50 known Kakapo surviving on small islands away from most predators.

Year Kakapo Population
1995 50
2006 83
2020 210
2022 120

Today the number of Kakapo is 120. A Recovery Programme is underway, and the Kakapo is on its first steps to recovery.