
From 51 birds to a 'comeback story': How the kākāpō narrowly escaped extinction.
New Zealand’s flightless kākāpō population fell to 51 birds in 1995. To save the species, the Department of Conservation moved them to island sanctuaries and started managed breeding programs. These efforts worked well, and the total number of these unique parrots grew to reach 325 birds by September 1, 2026.






