Record baby boom brings world’s heaviest parrot back from the brink

Key Points:

• A record 90 kakapo chicks have hatched in New Zealand this year, raising the endangered parrot population to 325, the highest in decades, according to the New Zealand Conservation Department.
• The kakapo, a flightless and nocturnal parrot native to New Zealand, faces threats from predators and low genetic diversity, but conservation efforts since 1995 have helped increase numbers from just 51 birds.
• Recovery initiatives include fitting each bird with radio transmitters for monitoring and creating predator-free habitats, with recent trials aiming to reduce intensive management while supporting natural breeding.
• The kakapo population's growth is significant as the species has a slow reproductive cycle tied to native Rimu tree fruiting, and experts predict shorter gaps between breeding seasons in the future.
• Some of the 2026 chicks will remain unnamed to symbolize a move toward more natural breeding conditions, reflecting ongoing efforts to balance intervention with sustainability in the species' recovery.