Kākāpō were widespread on mainland New Zealand before people arrived but numbers were decimated by hunting, habitat loss and depredation by introduced predators until the 1990’s when only around 50 birds remained. The Kākāpō Recovery Team brings together the expertise of scientists, rangers, volunteers, and donors to protect this critically endangered species via crucial intensive management and has gradually recovered the species to around 200 birds by 2022.
There are only two islands in NZ that are beyond the swimming distance of rats and stoats – Whenua Hou (Codfish Island) and Hauturu-o-Toi (Little Barrier Island). Because these are the only places where kākāpō can survive without ongoing predator control, establishing kākāpō on both islands is vital to the long-term survival of this critically endangered species.
