Then and Now
Here is the Timeline
The history of the kakapo is a story of drama, despair, and hope.
TimelineA ground-dwelling parrot that lived on the isolated landmass of New Zealand for thousands of years, the kakapo evolved into one of the world's most remarkable birds.
But with human colonisation, and the introduction of predators such as stoats, cats, rats and dogs, the species plummeted towards extinction. By 1995, there were only 50 known kakapo surviving, on a handful of small island sanctuaries.
Today, with a world population of 120 and a comprehensive Kakapo Recovery Programme underway, the kakapo is on its first tentative steps to recovery.
History
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| Before human settlement | Kakapo living in New Zealand |
| Maori Settlement | Rats, dogs introduced; hunting of birds begins |
| 1800s | Government attempts to save the species |
| 1900s | Stoats reach Resolution Island |
| 1970s | 3 Male Kakapos transferred to an island sanctuary |
| 1980s | Feral cats eradicated from Little Barrier Island |
| 1995 | 51 known Kakapo with 20 females |
| 2000 | 62 known Kakapo |
| 2010 | Last Kakapo from Fiordland dies |
| 2017 | 153 known Kakapo; 47% are female |
| 2024 | Kakapo management guided by Kakapo Recovery Plan. Goals: Maximise recruitment, minimise loss of genetic diversity, secure habitat, maintain public awareness. Vision: At least 150 adult females. |