Uncertain future for kakapo recovery plan as smelter ends funding deal

Sirocco the kakapo was the guest of honour at a party on Tuesday night to thank the NZ Aluminium Smelter for its support of the birds' recovery programme. The partnership is set to end in December, with future funding uncertain. Image by CAMERON BURNELLThe future of the Department of Conservation's kakapo recovery programme appears uncertain, with the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter looking at pulling out of its commercial funding after 25 years.

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A Norwich scientist’s plight to save a rare flightless parrot

Andrew Digby in New Zealand with a Kakapo.Adored by a country and loved for its quirkiness the world over, the Kakapo parrot is part of a huge conservation project to save it from extinction. Now one man from Norwich is playing an integral part in its recovery over 11,000 miles away in New Zealand.

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The Kakapo: Not ready for extinction

Night parrot. Hoki hatched on Codfish Island in 1992, and was the first to be successfully hand-reared. She has yet to produce any surviving offspring, but at just 21, she should have many reproductive years ahead. Image by Chrissie Goldrick By the mid-20th century it seemed inevitable the kakapo would be added to the long list of extinct New Zealand birds, but this peculiar parrot wasn’t quite ready for its swan song.

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Kakapo chick unit 'a first'

Hand raised Kakapo chicks.Invercargill ratepayers will bankroll a $425,000 project to have the world's only kakapo chick-rearing unit on their back doorstep.

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Maungatautari: The parrot of my dreams

Sirocco superstarElisabeth Easther followed her heart to Maungatautari in the hope that Sirocco, her kakapo friend, would recall their fleeting fling.

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