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Source: Close Up
The Department of Conservation has successfully artificially inseminated kakapos to help increase their critically endangered population.
Six female kakapos were artificially inseminated. Tests have just confirmed two of the chicks born this year are the result.
The program on Codfish Island is believed to be a world first for a wild bird population.
"We've been working towards this for about 10 years and now we've finally got a tool that we can use to help prevent further inbreeding in the population and hopefully increase fertility," says Deidre Vercoe, DOC kakapo recovery manager.
This is the first year in decades the kakapo population has exceeded 100.
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