Kakapo, or owl parrot, is an endemic species of New Zealand. Being distributed throughout its islands in the past, this bird is currently on the brink of extinction – in June 2020, only 210 were registered (New Zealand Birds Online, n.d.). The Department of Conservation of New Zealand introduced the Kakapo Recovery Program, which aims to enlarge the population in territories controlled by scientists (Feldberg, 2019). This paper aims to investigate the rationale of specific measures to support the statement: kakapo should be urgently saved from extinction.
First of all, kakapo should be protected and saved due to this species’ unique characteristics. First of all, the kakapo is the only living parrot that does not fly – it is a ground-dwelling bird with strong legs that allow it to cover several kilometers every day (Begum, n.d.). Moreover, it is the heaviest parrot in the world that can weigh up to four kilograms (Begum, n.d.). In addition, in contrast with other species of parrots, the kakapo is nocturnal. Their mottled green feathers provide excellent camouflage protection in islands’ forests where kakapo live, climbing trees and leaping between them (Feldberg, 2019). The parrot’s color also helps it freeze to become almost invisible to avian predators.
At the same time, people are responsible for saving kakapo as its population has dramatically decreased due to their activities. The Maori who arrived in New Zealand in the 14th century cleared vegetation for their farmlands and homes and heavily hunted for the parrot’s skin, meat, and feathers (Begum, n.d.). In the 19th century, the species had already become extinct in some territories when European settlers continued to destroy its habitat for agriculture, hunting them for food, and capture them for museums and zoos. In addition, people introduced new predators, including rats, cats, stoats, and fetters, that killed adult birds and ate their eggs. As a result, only 51 parrots were registered in 1995 (Begum, n.d.). The restoration and conservation of this species are also complicated by the fact that the kakapo mates only every two to four years.
However, although the government of New Zealand undertakes all efforts to save kakapo, its small population is still in danger due to aspergillosis, a severe fungal infection that affects the bird’s windpipe and lungs, and other diseases. In 2019, the outbreak of this illness led to the death of seven birds, and it may be regarded as having a serious impact on this species (Anderson, 2019). In addition, time-sensitive and efficient response is limited by extreme difficulties in the diagnosis of aspergillosis in kakapo at its early stages.
On the basis of this study, it is possible to conclude that kakapo should be urgently saved as this species is extremely endangered. Kakapo is a totally unique endemic of New Zealand, the heaviest parrot in the world and the only one that cannot fly. Its population decrease was caused only by people who destroyed the bird’s living environment and introduced new mammal predators. At the same time, scientists’ efforts to save kakapo are complicated by the parrot’s vulnerability to fungal infections, and the death of even several birds substantially affects the whole population. In this case, the methods of population conservation may include the transportation of parrots on several off-shore and predator-free islands access to which will presuppose strict quarantine and medical examination of both people and birds.
References
Anderson, C. (2019). World’s fattest parrot, the endangered kākāpō, could be wiped out by fungal infection. The Guardian. Web.
Begum, T. (n.d.). New Zealand’s quirky kākāpō is pulled back from the edge of extinction. Natural History Museum. Web.
Feldberg, S. (2019). Scientists are getting creative to save this muppet-faced, flightless parrot. National Geographic. Web.
New Zealand Birds Online. (n.d.). Kakapo. Web.