Meet the Kakapo, an adorable, dog-like bird that New Zealanders are desperate to save from extinction
The first thing you would notice about a kakapo would probably be that it looks like an owl painted in parrot colors. It has a distinctive, musty odor as well according to those who have been around them. Oh, and Kakapos are also pretty big. It’s the heaviest parrot in the world and can’t fly, though it does has large wings.
They may not be able to fly, but kakapos walk, jump and are excellent climbers. They feed at night and are often found eating 50 feet up a rimu tree.
The sounds this bird makes are pretty unique as well. It can make a bird-like sound, but it will also often use other calls that sound more like a braying donkey or squealing pig. There’s also a nasal metallic sound it makes called “chinging”.
What else makes the kakapo so unique? They are one of, if not the longest living bird species in the world with a lifespan around 90 years. They are also the only kind of parrot that has a ‘lek’ breeding system, meaning the males display themselves for the females to choose.
There are less than 150 kakapo left in the world, with none left on the mainland of New Zealand. Here’s to hoping we can save this regal looking bird.
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