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Kakapo
Culturally, Ecologically, Genuinely Special
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"They are [New Zealand's] national monuments. They are our Tower of London, our Arc de Triomphe, our pyramids. We don't have this ancient architecture that we can be proud of and swoon over in wonder, but what we do have is something that is far, far older than that. No one else has kiwi, no one else has kakapo. They have been around for millions of years, if not thousands of millions of years. And once they are gone, they are gone forever. And it's up to us to make sure they never die out."
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"It's not just a species, not just a genera, it's a sub-family all to itself. So taxonomically it's much, much more important."
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- Don Merton is a conservationist who helped save New Zealand's black robin from extinction and has performed countless acts to conserve birds in New Zealand. His words put the kakapo's importance into perspective.
Cultural Significance:
Kakapo were extremely important in the world of Maori, the native people of New Zealand. Kakapo were so plentiful the Maori hunted them as a main source of food. They also used their feathers for warm ceremonial cloaks and clothing and kept them as pets. Kakapo are honored in Maori culture and are an important aspect of the ecology of the main islands.
Kuia, a female kakapo, is nesting.
Ecological Importance
Kakapo are strictly herbivores, meaning they eat only plants and vegetation. They fill an important ecological niche and help control vegetation density and seed dispersion. Kakapo crush and grind plant matter to take in nutrients and leave wads of fiber and cellulose behind. Think of them as New Zealand's gardeners! Kakapo occupy large individual ranges and this feeding behavior greatly affects their environment. Kakapo will trim, clear and re-use communal trails in the undergrowth of the forest. This aids general wildlife mobility in the forest. The wads of fiber kakapo leave behind often end up as nesting material for other creatures or they will become fertilizer for other plants.
Threats to Kakapo
Kakapo are extremely vulnerable to ground-dwelling predators of all types. The main problems they face are rats, stoats (weasels), ferrets, cats, and dogs, all of which have been brought to the islands by humans, mostly during European colonization. The kakapo's ground-dwelling nature and habit of freezing when in danger make them and their chicks very easy prey. Predator control is one of the main problems being researched in kakapo recovery.
Kakapo Historic Range
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Current Range
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It is believed that kakapo historically populated most of the South Island and much of the North Island as well. The map on the right shows kakapo populations over the past 200 years and the small islands that they have now been moved to. One day we hope to see the kakapo's safe return to the main islands!
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