TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The population of kakapo, a type of flightless parrot and one of the rarest species in the world, continues to grow and has now reached 325 individuals. This number marks a new milestone for the critically endangered species in New Zealand.
The New Zealand Department of Conservation noted that the kakapo population has surged from 235 individuals in early 2026. This is a significant jump from the 51 individuals in the 1990s. The last estimated kakapo population to exceed 300 individuals was approximately 75 years ago.
"It’s a significant milestone for the species," said Deidre Vercoe, the operational manager of the New Zealand Department of Conservation for kakapo and takahe, as quoted from the Australian Geographic report on September 21, 2026.
This population surge occurred after this year's breeding season broke records with the birth of 90 kakapo chicks. This marks a record and also signifies the first breeding season for kakapo since 2022.
"We had a four-year gap between breeding seasons," said Deidre. "So, it’s fantastic to finally see the population increase after all that time."
She mentioned that there is still a long way to go in the recovery of this bird species, but still, 90 bird chicks in one season is a record. "In the early years of recovery, it took 16 years to produce that many chicks," she continued.
The kakapo (Strigops habroptilus) is one of the rarest birds in the world and also the heaviest parrot. This endemic species of New Zealand is unable to fly. Kakapo gained widespread attention after an individual in a BBC documentary was seen climbing onto the shoulder of English zoologist Mark Carwardine and attempting to mate with the back of his head.
Kakapo faces several challenges in reproduction. Individuals typically only begin breeding at least five years old. They also only breed when the native New Zealand rimu tree produces abundant fruit or undergoes mast. This phenomenon only occurs every two to four years. Additionally, kakapo faces issues of low genetic diversity, infertility, and low hatching success.
Before conservation programs were initiated, the previously abundant kakapo population plummeted to just 51 individuals in 1995. The New Zealand Department of Conservation, along with Ngi Tahu, the main Maori tribe on the South Island, then carried out the Kakapo Recovery Program. All remaining kakapo were moved from the mainland to predator-free offshore islands, and their population was supported through 13 breeding seasons.
Kakapo chicks must reach 150 days old to be counted in the official population. Out of the 90 chicks born in the 2026 breeding season, there are 38 females and 52 males. The last chicks to be included in this year's count have just reached that age.
Deidre stated that the recovery of kakapo will still take a long time. Initial predictions indicate that the rimu trees on the offshore islands where kakapo live may likely undergo mast again in 2028, so the gap towards the next breeding season is expected to be shorter compared to the 2022-2026 interval.
"While we’ll take a moment to stop and reflect on this remarkable year, we’re already looking ahead…and preparing for what could come next," said Deidre.
Read: Meet 'Leopardus Tilcayo': the First New Cat Species Discovery in 100 Years
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
