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Caring for our Kakapo
The team at the NZCCM are contracted to provide veterinary services to the Department of Conservation, Kakapo Recovery team. Our involvement includes providing healthcare advice and services for sick or injured Kakapo. With only 122 Kakapo left in the world it is an honour to assist in the recovery of such an amazing bird.
Kakapo Fast Facts
 The kakapo is the rarest, heaviest and only nocturnal parrot in the world, and is endemic to New Zealand. It was once one of out most common birds – found throughout our three main islands. Today it is confined to Codfish Island (Whenue Hou) and Anchor Island.
- Kakapo is Maori for ‘Parrot of the Night’
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Hunting, habitat destruction, and introduced predators brought the species to the edge of extinction.
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In 1995, kakapo numbers declined to just 50 birds. With 33 healthy chicks born in the 2009 breeding season, the kakapo population has now increased to 122 birds.
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The kakapo is the only parrot in the world to have a ‘lek’ mating system – which involves the male attracting the females by his booming call. Males create elaborate track and bowl systems in the scrub, and call from the ‘bowls’ to help transmit the sound of the low ‘boom’ the make.
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A male kakapo’s booming call can be heard up to 5km away. One was recorded making 17,000 booms in one night!
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Kakapo only breed every three to four years, and breeding is dependent on the masting (fruiting) of the rimu tree. The rimu tree’s berries are the chosen food parents feed their chicks.
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Kakapo are herbivores and eat a variety of roots, leaves and fruit.
For more information visit: www.kakaporecovery.org.nz
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