Old age may have killed stud kakapo

Southland Times, with an update on Waynebo, the kakapo found dead on Codfish Island earlier this month.

Kakapo Recovery Programme manager Deirdre Vercoe said tests on his body had found no specific cause of death on January 2.

Although Waynebo had a small wound on his chest, the lack of inflammation suggested it had been inflicted after he was dead.

Found on Stewart Island in 1989 – making him one of the last discovered wild kakapo – Waynebo fathered 11 chicks during his time with the recovery programme.

Kakapo death a hit for breeding chances

Sad news from New Zealand. Kakapo numbers have dropped to 128 with the death of Waynebo. The Dominion Post has the story.

Male kakapo Waynebo was found dead by rangers on January 2 after his transmitter went into mortality mode.

Kakapo Recovery programme manager Deidre Vercoe Scott said the cause of Waynebo's death was unknown and tissue samples had been sent to Massey University.

"An autopsy has been carried out at Auckland Zoo and, at this stage, the only indication of the cause of death is that he had a wound on his chest."