Takahe (Porphyrio hochstetteri), New Zealand.
Image: Wouter Koch, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
At a glance
- IUCN category
- EN · Endangered
- Animal group
- Birds
- Population trend
- Increasing
- Last verified
Conservation overview
The takahe is a large, flightless, brilliantly blue-green rail of New Zealand. It is assessed as Endangered.
It was thought extinct for decades before being rediscovered in 1948.
Range & habitat
Grasslands of the South Island of New Zealand, plus predator-free islands.
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 predators (stoats)
- Competition with introduced deer
- A small population
Why it matters
A flightless bird brought back from presumed extinction, the takahe is a celebrated New Zealand recovery story and a flagship for predator control.
Sources
Sources for Takahe
- IUCN Red List — look up Takahe (authoritative status)
- Animal Diversity Web
Frequently Asked Questions
Was the takahe really thought extinct?
Yes. It was believed extinct for around 50 years until a population was famously rediscovered in a remote South Island valley in 1948, prompting intensive conservation.
Why is the takahe Endangered?
Published assessments cite introduced predators such as stoats, competition with introduced deer for food, and its small population, though careful management has helped numbers grow. See the IUCN Red List.
Last updated: