Sirocco the kakapo shoots to fame

Published: 7:19AM Tuesday October 20, 2009 Source: ONE News

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New Zealand's most famous kakapo has proved that size is not everything after a YouTube video featuring the critically endangered bird received more than one million hits over the weekend.

Sirocco the kakapo shot to fame after he was caught on camera mating with a zoologists head during the BBC series Last Chance to See and has gained a huge online following from around the world since.

Sirocco now has 4,000 friends on Facebook, who regularly post messages of support and more than 2,000 followers on Twitter.

The Department of Conservation (DOC) is new to the social media world, but it seems to have helped connect people to New Zealand's natural heritage.

DOC spokeswoman Nic Vallance says it is great to know that people all over the world are interested in New Zealand's precious wildlife.

More than $3,000 has been donated towards the Kakapo Recovery Programme in the past week alone, thanks in large to Sirocco.


Click here to follow Sirocco on Twitter and here to become Sirocco's Facebook friend.

You can also watch our Meet the Locals video of Sirocco here .

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