Kākāpō rising: 90 chicks swell population of the world’s heaviest parrot

<p>Critically endangered New Zealand bird enjoys record breeding season triggered by mass fruiting of native tree, pushing its numbers to 325</p><p>The population of the world’s heaviest parrot, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/16/kakapo-the-worlds-fattest-parrot-named-new-zealands-bird-of-the-year-for-2020">the kākāpō</a>, has surpassed 300 birds for the first time in 75 years, after a record breeding season triggered by the mass fruiting of a native New Zealand tree.</p><p>Ninety chicks were officially added to the population of the critically endangered birds on 1 September, pushing the total to 325 – a record high since recovery efforts began.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/01/record-breeding-worlds-heaviest-parrot-nz-endangered-kakapo">Continue reading...</a>