2. Endemic to New Zealand, it’s actually the world’s only nocturnal, flightless parrot.
South Pacific / BBC Natural History
5. A relic of a bygone age when it had no predators, it is the rarest parrot on Earth.
Robin Bush / Getty Images
6. Which might explain why it has lots of fans, including the actor Stephen Fry.
7. And his mate Mark Carwardine, a zoologist who found himself the object of a lusty kakapo’s affections in an infamous BBC nature documentary.
Last Chance to See / BBC Natural History Unit
Frisky. Very frisky.
Last Chance to See / BBC Natural History Unit
8. Amorous chap Sirocco was given the title of Official Spokesbird for Conservation by New Zealand Prime Minister John Key in 2010.
As Official Spokesbird, Sirocco tweets and Facebooks with the assistance of a human intermediary.
10. It’s estimated there are fewer than 130 kakapos left in the wild.
Source: Kakapo Recovery Project.
11. This is actually a big increase on 1989, when the population numbered just 65 birds.
Via wikipedia.org
13. Unable to fly, the kakapo has plenty of time to bulk up, making it the world’s heaviest parrot.
Mark Carwardine / Getty Images
Kakapos weigh up to 4kg.
Kakapos can weigh up to 4kg.
South Pacific / BBC Natural History
16. They have a subsonic mating boom that can travel several kilometres: LISTEN.
17. It “skraarks” loudly like other parrots but you might mistake other calls for a braying donkey, a squealing pig, or a booming bittern: LISTEN.
NZ Department of Conservation / Via kakaporecovery.org.nz
18. The kakapo also produces a nasal metallic noise called “chinging”: LISTEN.
19. It’s possibly the longest-lived bird species in the world.
National Geographic / Via Facebook: siroccokakapo
20. Kakapo have inhabited New Zealand for thousands of years but, with the arrival of humans and introduced predators, their once abundant numbers rapidly declined.
21. A small team of dedicated staff from New Zealand’s Department of Conservation have worked tirelessly to protect, manage and grow the kakapo population.
22. They have been supported by volunteers who provide extra support – by nest-minding and supplementary feeding – during the precious breeding seasons.
