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Nature & Environment

New Zealand 'night parrot' numbers increase

By T.K. Randall
June 23, 2012 · Comment icon 21 comments

Image Credit: CC 3.0 Mnolf
A mammoth conservation effort has helped bring one of the rarest birds back from the brink of extinction.
The flightless green kakapo or "night parrot" has seen its numbers plummet to fewer than 50 individuals, making it one of the most endangered species on the planet. The helpless birds have little in the way of a defense mechanism and tend to freeze when threatened making them easy pickings for predators.

Due to a concerted conservation effort however the kakapo population has at last been rising and now stands at 126 individuals. It is hoped that their numbers will continue to increase and that this remarkable species will soon be a common sight in New Zealand once again.
Flightless, slow-moving and at times more sexually attracted to humans than their own species, it's small wonder New Zealand's kakapo parrot is on the verge of extinction.


Source: Yahoo! News | Comments (21)




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Recent comments on this story
Comment icon #12 Posted by Uncle Sam 13 years ago
I would love to handle exotic animals and species that are almost extinct. It would give me a great feeling being able to help species that are dying off, to help repopulate their populations and make sure they survive. If I could save one almost extinct species, I would be happy and content with my life.
Comment icon #13 Posted by King Fluffs 13 years ago
I love that species. They look so fluffy.
Comment icon #14 Posted by Coffey 13 years ago
They look half parrot and half owl. Very unusual look.
Comment icon #15 Posted by Device 13 years ago
Kudos to the people behind this conservation effort. These are lovely birds.
Comment icon #16 Posted by Eldorado 13 years ago
They look half parrot and half owl. Very unusual look. A bird who talks all night, then swoops and tries to kill you? I've met a few of those. p.s. That thing nightowls do with the head is truly amazing.
Comment icon #17 Posted by xROCKIEx 13 years ago
They are SO CUTE! They seem so fat and stupid but I want to cuddle them lol. I'm glad their numbers are rising.
Comment icon #18 Posted by Skeptic Chicken 13 years ago
They are SO CUTE! They seem so fat and stupid but I want to cuddle them lol. I'm glad their numbers are rising. I know, they're those kind of things that you just want to cuddle so much that you then realise that you've crushed every bone in their body and made them become a vegetable... thankfully, parrots have big beaks to stop you from doing that
Comment icon #19 Posted by DeathRain2012 12 years ago
Kakapo.. try not to love that. You will not succeed.
Comment icon #20 Posted by Skeptic Chicken 12 years ago
Kakapo.. try not to love that. You will not succeed. It's... So... PUDGEY!
Comment icon #21 Posted by psyche101 12 years ago
Cool! I saw one at Kiwi Bird Life park when I was in Queenstown last year. I thought the park people said they could be quite the thief. Funny how they prefer humans as mates, but I guess so do I. I would say this would have to be one of the few species in the world where almost every individual has a name!


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