About Kakapo (Strigops habroptilus)
- The Kakapo is the largest flightless parrot in the world, native to New Zealand.
- It is nocturnal, herbivorous, and the only lek-breeding parrot species, meaning males gather to perform mating displays at specific sites.
- It is named for its owl-like face, with moss-green plumage mottled with yellow and black, grey bill, and grey legs with pale soles.
- The Kakapo reproduces infrequently, only breeding in years when certain native fruits, such as rimu berries, are abundant.
- Lek-breeding behaviour includes the digging of bowl-shaped depressions in the ground, which help amplify mating calls across long distances.
Threats to Survival
- The species faces multiple threats:
- Predation by invasive mammals (rats, stoats, weasels) introduced by European settlers.
- Infertility issues and high embryo mortality have severely restricted population growth.
- Susceptibility to diseases such as aspergillosis, a dangerous fungal infection.
- Due to these pressures, the Kakapo is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
