Conservation efforts in New Zealand have reached a significant milestone as the population of the kākāpō, a critically endangered flightless parrot, has officially surpassed 300 birds. According to the Department of Conservation, 90 new chicks were added to the population on September 1, bringing the total count to 325. This surge in numbers is the highest recorded since intensive recovery efforts for the species began.

Experts attribute this successful breeding season to the mass fruiting of the rimu tree, a native New Zealand plant that serves as a primary food source for the birds. Deidre Vercoe, the kākāpō recovery operations manager, noted that the population had not reached this level in approximately 75 years. The recovery program has been managing the species through a four-year cycle, and this recent success provides a positive outlook for the long-term survival of the world’s heaviest parrot species. While the population remains small, the addition of 90 chicks represents a substantial increase in genetic diversity and overall numbers for a bird that was once on the brink of extinction.