The history of the Kākāpo is a story of drama, despair, and hope. A ground-dwelling parrot that lived on the isolated landmass of New Zealand for thousands of years, the Kākāpo evolved into one of the world's most remarkable birds.
But with human colonisation, and the introduction of predators such as stoats, cats, rats and dogs, the species plummeted towards extinction. By 1995, there were only 50 known Kākāpo surviving, on a handful of small island sanctuaries.
Today, with a world population of 120 and a comprehensive Kākāpo Recovery Programme underway, the Kākāpo is on its first tentative steps to recovery.
| Date | Kākāpo History |
|---|---|
| Pre-human | Abundant throughout NZ |
| 1800s | Central North Is, Forested areas of South Island |
| 1894 | Government attempt to save Kākāpo |