Kākāpō (Strigops habroptila) — the parrot Sirocco.
Image: Department of Conservation, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
At a glance
- IUCN category
- CR · Critically Endangered
- Animal group
- Birds
- Population trend
- Increasing
- Last verified
Conservation overview
The kākāpō is a large, flightless, nocturnal parrot endemic to New Zealand and one of the world's most intensively managed birds. It is assessed as Critically Endangered.
Every known individual is monitored, and the population survives on predator-free islands.
Range & habitat
Survives only on predator-free islands of New Zealand under intensive management.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Introduced mammalian predators
- Very small population size
- Disease and low genetic diversity
Why it matters
The kākāpō is a flagship for island conservation and a striking example of how isolated species suffer when mammalian predators arrive.
A flightless nocturnal parrot from New Zealand managed on predator-free islands.
Gallery
A kākāpō — Critically Endangered, managed on predator-free islands.
Image: Cephas, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Sources
Sources for Kākāpō
- IUCN Red List — look up Kākāpō (authoritative status)
- Animal Diversity Web
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can't the kākāpō fly?
Is the kākāpō population growing?
Last updated: