New Zealand's kakapo population hits 325 after record 90 chicks fledge
The critically endangered flightless parrot rebounds from 51 birds in 1995, passing 300 for the first time in 75 years.
What to know
- Kakapo population reached 325 birds after 90 chicks fledged in 2026—the largest single-season gain since recovery began in the 1980s, and the first time the species has exceeded 300 in approximately 75 years.
- The breeding boom was driven by an exceptional rimu fruit crop; kakapo only breed every two to four years when these native trees produce abundant red fruits.
- The recovery program is shifting toward reduced intensive management, using remote monitoring technology and allowing some chicks to remain unnamed as the species gradually transitions toward self-sustaining populations.
- Conservationists face a remaining challenge: creating more predator-free island habitat to support continued population growth beyond the current three managed island populations.
Deidre Vercoe Kakapo Recovery Operations Manager, Department of ConservationNew Zealand Department of Conservation Government conservation agencyTāne Davis Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu representative on Kakapo Recovery GroupMeridian Energy National partner of Kakapo Recovery Programme
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Conservationists report transition toward reduced intervention in kakapo management
The recovery program trialed approaches to reduce intensive management, including using remote nest technology to monitor eggs and chicks with fewer in-person checks and reducing supplementary feeding in some areas. A small number of 2026 chicks will remain unnamed, signifying a shift toward more natural breeding outcomes.
“It took about 16 years to make 90 chicks in the early days of the recovery program. And we've just done that in one season.”
— Deidre Vercoe, Kakapo Recovery Operations Manager · source -
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🦜 NEW: # NewZealand ’s # kakapo population has reached 325 # birds after a record 90 # chicks survived to independence this season, the largest single-season gain since recovery work began in the # 1980s . The flightless # parrot , which breeds only when # rimu # trees produce heavy # fruit crops, dropped to only 51 individuals in 1995…
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Kākāpō numbers pass 300 for the first time in 75 years. New Zealand’s flightless, nocturnal parrot now totals 325 birds, after a record 90 chicks fledged this season, built on the Department of Conservation’s recovery programme, which started with just 51 birds in 1995. Three managed island populations and radio-tracking backpacks keep every bird…
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background
Kakapo population reaches 325, exceeding 300 for first time in 75 years — The species crosses a major conservation milestone. The last time the population is thought to have exceeded 300 was approximately 75 years prior.
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background
Department of Conservation confirms 90 kakapo chicks reached independence — Ninety chicks from the 2026 breeding season officially joined the population after reaching 150 days of age, the independence threshold. Officials say 79 females nested, laying 258 eggs; nearly one-third of eggs produced surviving chicks. This marks the largest single-season chick count since recovery began.
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background
Kakapo population bottleneck reaches 51 birds — The species declined to just 51 individuals, including only 20 females, due to historical hunting, predator introduction, habitat loss, and disease.