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Podcast: Our Changing World
Episode:

Looking to a wild future for kākāpō
Category: Science & Medicine
Duration: 00:28:06
Publish Date: 2026-05-11 17:00:00
Description:

Today kākāpō breed on three remote islands, each bird wears a transmitter and they are carefully monitored and minded. But the ultimate goal of the kākāpō recovery programme is to restore the mauri of the kākāpō – to have them back in our forests as wild, nameless birds. What are the steps to get there, and how can science help keep kākāpō safe through this transition?

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Learn more:

  • Kākāpō need new habitat, could fenced ecosanctuaries be an option? That’s why kākāpō were released into Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari in July 2023, to start a trial of how they would do in this new, mainland, North Island habitat. A year later, there had already been a lot of lessons learned.
  • One of the possible future habitats mentioned by Deirdre Vercoe is South Westland, where a massive effort is underway to clear stoats, possums and rats from a huge area.
  • For all the details about this record-breaking breeding season, listen to the Kākāpō Files podcast.

Guests:

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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