How the Flightless Kākāpō Parrot Climbed Back From the Brink of Extinction

The kākāpō is the world's heaviest parrot, a nocturnal New Zealand native that weighs up to a hefty 4 kg. Having evolved over millions of years without land predators, it traded flight for a life spent walking and climbing the forest floor, relying on its moss-green plumage for camouflage. 

Without native threats, the kākāpō developed a unique "freeze" defense mechanism and a distinct, sweet honey-like scent. Unfortunately, these traits left the species utterly defenseless when humans introduced invasive predators like rats, cats, and stoats. Compounding the threat, they only breed every 2 to 4 years when native rimu trees fruit heavily.

To save the species, conservationists relocated the surviving birds to predator-free offshore sanctuaries. Through intensive hand-rearing and monitoring, the population has successfully rebounded from a critical low of 51 birds in 1995 to over 250 today.