New Zealand’s flightless, nocturnal parrot is staging a remarkable recovery from near-total extinction.

Nature · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: The world’s heaviest parrot, the kakapo, once dwindled to just 51 individuals. Thanks to a massive breeding season triggered by a rare fruiting event, the population has surged to 325. These flightless, sweet-smelling birds are now facing a new challenge: they are officially running out of room.

The kakapo is a biological outlier, a flightless, nocturnal parrot that can weigh up to nine pounds. Endemic to New Zealand, these birds have evolved in a unique environment largely free of land mammals until human arrival. Their decline began in the 13th century due to hunting and the introduction of invasive predators like rats, cats, and stoats. By 1995, the species had plummeted to a precarious low of 51 individuals, including only 20 females.

Recovery efforts initiated in the 1980s have slowly reversed this trend. The recent population milestone of 325 birds is significant, as it is the highest count in approximately 75 years. This surge was driven by a 'breeding bonanza' linked to the rimu tree, a native evergreen that produces abundant red fruit every two to four years. When these trees fruit heavily, the kakapo population experiences a baby boom. This year, 79 females nested and laid 258 eggs, resulting in 90 chicks surviving to the 150-day independence mark.

Conservationists are now managing the species with less human intervention, using remote nest technology to monitor eggs and reducing supplementary feeding. Despite this success, the birds are facing a 'housing crisis' on their predator-free island sanctuaries of Codfish, Anchor, and Chalky. Experts are now looking toward 2028, aiming to secure more habitat and eventually return the kakapo to Rakiura, their ancestral home. The goal is to ensure the species continues to thrive without constant oversight.

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