New Zealand’s heaviest parrot surges from 51 to 325 after decades of conservation

New Zealand’s critically endangered kākāpō, the world’s heaviest parrot, has reached a remarkable conservation milestone after decades of intensive efforts to pull the species back from the brink of extinction. Its population has climbed to 325 birds after 90 chicks from the 2026 breeding season were officially added to the count, marking the highest population recorded during the modern recovery programme. The achievement is particularly significant because the Kākāpō Recovery Programme began in 1995 with just 51 birds, including only 20 females. The latest increase also means the species is believed to have crossed 300 birds for the first time in around 75 years, offering a major sign that one of New Zealand’s most threatened native species is slowly returning from the edge.From 51 birds to 325 after decades of conservationThe kākāpō's dramatic turnaround has been built over more than three decades of intensive conservation involving New Zealand’s Department of Conservation, Ngāi Tahu, scientists, rangers, volunteers and other partners. When the recovery programme began in 1995, only 51 kākāpō were known to remain, with the population consisting of just 31 males and 20 females. C...