Sirocco chills out on Codfish Island




Two five-month-old kakapo chicks are the result of artificial insemination. Photo by Darren Scott. A major breakthrough in the fight to preserve the critically endangered kakapo has been made, with paternity tests revealing artificial insemination has produced two chicks, the Department of Conservation says.
WORKING RELATIONSHIP: Sirocco with Jo Ledington, a Kakapo recovery ranger. Proving size isn't everything, the critically endangered kākāpō population has shown their combined pulling power can draw people in from all over the world, after a Youtube video featuring the now famous Sirocco the kākāpō received more than million hits this weekend.
This week's screening of the BBC's "Last Chance to See" programme featuring New Zealand's own conservation ambassador Sirocco the kākāpō, has catapulted kākāpō recovery into the international spotlight.