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Tuesday 9 September, 7pm

When New Zealand drifted off from Gondwanaland millions of years ago, its isolation spurred the development of unique flora and fauna. 

With no mammalian competition, New Zealand became a perfect refuge for flightless birds which were able to fill ecological niches not available on other landmasses. 

One of the oddest of these birds is the giant, flightless parrot, the Kakapo.  Nocturnal and corpulent, it has a sad history - responding to a predator-free environment the Kakapo took to the ground and was once numerous. 

But with the arrival of people and other mammals, its numbers declined very rapidly. 

Sadly the Kakapo is unable to defend itself against predators such as rats, cats or stoats. 

On top of this, its habitat is also being lost or subtly changed. 

Not surprisingly this once prolific parrot has become an extremely rare and seriously endangered species.