Ninety chicks lift New Zealand kākāpō population to 325
Ninety chicks were added to New Zealand's kākāpō population on 1 September, bringing the total to 325. The critically endangered parrot has now passed 300 birds for the first time in 75 years. The species breeds only every two to four years when native rimu trees produce heavy berry crops. A bountiful harvest prompted this record breeding run after a four-year wait. "In the early years of recovery, it took 16 years to produce that many chicks," said Deidre Vercoe, kākāpō recovery operations manager. Cats and stoats nearly wiped them out by the 1900s.
A species once reduced to 51 birds is slowly rebuilding after decades of recovery efforts.
Source: Kākāpō rising: 90 chicks swell population of the world’s heaviest parrot (theguardian.com).
Written by the HappyGood desk from the primary source linked above and checked against it. Every story links its source. Corrections: hello@happygood.news.
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