The kakapo is a critically endangered parrot that is native to New Zealand. Once widespread across the country, the kakapo population declined significantly after the arrival of humans and introduced predators like cats and rats. Today, there are only around 200 kakapo remaining, making them one of the rarest birds in the world.
Kakapo Population Over Time
When the first Polynesian settlers arrived in New Zealand about 700 years ago, the kakapo was still common and widespread. However, the kakapo population began to decline as humans hunted them for food, fur and feathers. The introduction of predators like cats, rats and stoats by European settlers in the late 18th and early 19th centuries accelerated the decline. By the late 1890s, the kakapo was eliminated from the North Island and severely reduced on the South Island.
By the mid-20th century, the kakapo was extinct in the North Island, and less than 1000 remained on Stewart Island/Rakiura and parts of Fiordland. Intensive predator control starting in the 1950s slowed the decline, but kakapo were still being killed faster than they could breed. By the 1990s, only about 50 birds remained.
In 1995, all the remaining kakapo were gathered from Stewart Island/Rakiura and Fiordland and moved to predator-free offshore islands for a captive breeding program. The total population at the time was only 51 birds. Thanks to intensive conservation efforts, the kakapo population has slowly recovered. As of October 2022, there are 211 living kakapo, including 73 adult females and 138 adult males.
Current Kakapo Population
Here is a breakdown of the current kakapo population as of October 2022:
- 211 total living kakapo
- 73 adult females over 1.5 years old
- 138 adult males over 1.5 years old
- 61 juveniles under 1.5 years old
- 152 kakapo on Anchor Island
- 32 kakapo on Hauturu/Little Barrier Island
- 27 kakapo on Whenua Hou/Codfish Island
The kakapo population reached an all-time low of only 51 birds in 1995. Thanks to intensive conservation work, the population has increased over 4-fold since then. However, kakapo are still critically endangered and face major threats from disease, infertility and natural disasters like fires.
Major Threats to Kakapo Survival
While the kakapo population has increased in recent decades thanks to conservation efforts, major threats still remain for the species:
- Low genetic diversity – The tiny founding population of 51 birds has produced limited genetic diversity, increasing vulnerability to disease and infertility.
- Infertility –Around 80% of female kakapo are infertile due to irregular breeding cycles. Only a small number breed in mating seasons.
- Disease – Kakapo are vulnerable to diseases like aspergillosis, a fungal infection that has killed some kakapo.
- Predation – Some weka and cats still threaten kakapo on offshore islands.
- Natural disasters – Fires and storms can wipe out habitat and food sources.
These threats make ongoing conservation action absolutely vital for the kakapo’s survival as a species.
Kakapo Conservation Efforts
Several intensive conservation efforts are underway to save the critically endangered kakapo:
- Offshore island habitat – All kakapo are restricted to predator-free offshore islands with suitable habitat and food.
- Supplementary feeding – The Kakapo Recovery Programme provides supplementary food during breeding seasons.
- Nest monitoring – All kakapo nests are intensively monitored. Eggs and chicks are hand-reared if needed.
- Artificial insemination – Fertile eggs are harvested from breeding females and used for artificial insemination of infertile kakapo.
- Health monitoring – All kakapo have radio transmitters to monitor location and health parameters like weight.
These intensive management efforts have been crucial in saving the kakapo from extinction. However, theSpecies recovery programme faces many challenges and requires significant long-term funding.
Kakapo Breeding Seasons
Kakapo only breed sporadically when native rimu trees produce abundant fruit:
Breeding Season | Number of Chicks Fledged |
---|---|
1981-82 | 4 |
1989-91 | 8 |
1992 | 6 |
1995-96 | 0 |
1998 | 6 |
2002 | 21 |
2005 | 34 |
2009 | 24 |
2014 | 47 |
2016 | 2 |
2019-20 | 56 |
2021 | 32 |
No breeding occurred from 1995-96 due to food shortage. The large breeding seasons in 2002 and 2005 produced many surviving chicks that bolstered the recovering kakapo population. However, long gaps between breeding seasons limit ability to grow the population.
Kakapo Recovery Goal
The Kakapo Recovery Programme has an ambitious goal to establish at least 500 adult female kakapo capable of generating 150 female chicks per year. This would establish a genetically robust, self-sustaining wild population spread over 3 different geographic locations.
Achieving this will require sustained effort. Kakapo are inherently slow breeders, with females only nesting every 2-4 years. And many challenges remain, including limited funding and habitat, infertility, and managing genetic diversity.
But the dedication of conservationists gives hope that kakapo numbers will continue growing. If the recovery goal can be achieved, the kakapo may yet survive into the future.
Conclusion
In summary, there are currently 211 living kakapo left in the world. This critically endangered parrot has rebounded from just 51 birds in 1995 thanks to intensive conservation efforts. However, ongoing challenges like infertility, disease and limited genetic diversity continue to threaten the kakapo’s survival.
Achieving the recovery goal of at least 500 breeding females and 150 chicks per year would secure the species. But it will require a dedicated, long-term effort to overcome remaining obstacles. The fate of these unique, flightless parrots remains uncertain, but focused conservation initiatives give hope that kakapo numbers can slowly increase over time.