Kakapo numbers rise to 252

The Kakapo Recovery team are celebrating the results of the second biggest breeding season which has seen the Kakapo numbers rise to a hugely impressive 252. Here's the Otago Daily Times article.

Conservation Minister Poto Williams said she was pleased with the numbers as there were now more of the birds than there had been for almost 50 years.
"There is an all-hands-on-deck approach to saving kakapo.
"This has been the second-biggest breeding season, leading to the highest number of birds since the 1970s, but we can’t take our eye off the ball."
The season’s 55 kakapo chicks were added to the official population only when they reached 150 days old, she said.

Flying kākāpō sperm

This episode of the wonderful Kakapo Files Podcast details their spectacular efforts at harvesting sperm from male Kakapo, then using drones to whizz them across the island to artificially inseminate a female far away. For the famous flightless parrots who've forgotten that they've forgotten how to fly, this may be the ultimate irony. Do check out the podcast, it's been a fascinating insight into what's turning out to be a record breeding season.

Flying kakapo sperm - a world first. DOC's Kakapo Recovery Team manager Deidre Vercoe with 'spermcopter' drone pilot Anton Marsden, and sperm expert Andreas Bublat holding a tiny vial of kakapo sperm. Photo: RNZ / Alison Ballance

Northern white rhinos: could science save the sub-species?

We stumbled upon this article on the BBC about a current initiative to harvest eggs from the two remaining female Northern White Rhinos, fertilize them with sperm from a deceased male, and implant any resultant embryos into a Southern White Rhino surrogate. We wish them the best of luck!

KĀKĀPŌ - RESCUED FROM THE BRINK OF EXTINCTION

A new, updated edition of Alison Ballance's Kākāpō book comes out in September and is available for pre-order now from Potton & Burton!

New Zealand’s threatened night parrot, the kākāpō, has been the focus of a remarkable conservation effort that has seen the bird’s population rise from a perilous low of 51 aging birds to three times that number. Kākāpō are unique and unusual birds. Long-lived, flightless heavyweights, they only breed every two to four years, and survive on just a small number of predator-free island sanctuaries.

A dedicated team of rangers and scientists know every kākāpō by name, and people from around the world follow this pioneering conservation programme on social media. Every new chick is celebrated, every death is mourned, and the antics of the most famous kākāpō of all, Sirocco, make headlines. Natural history writer and broadcaster Alison Ballance has been involved with kākāpō since the mid-1990s, and has a unique insight into the birds and their human minders. In this fully updated edition of Kākāpō, she follows the fall and rise of one of the world’s most unusual birds, from the brink of extinction through a roller-coaster ride of hope and loss, to today, when the species has a bright future ahead. These are exciting times for kākāpō and after 30 years of intensive management the Department of Conservation’s Kākāpō Recovery team hope they are about to do themselves out of a job.

Brian Cox Meets An Aye-Aye

Here's a lovely clip of Professor Brian Cox with an Aye Aye lemur in this clips from the BBC "Wonders of Life" series. Brian gives us a nice close up of his long bony finger.

Lisa vs Tutoko at the kakapo feeder

Here's some very nice new footage of Kakapos Lisa and Tutoko feeding at special supplementary feeding stations. 2018 is still looking like it's going to be a very good breeding year. Fingers crossed!

Last Chance to See - Netflix USA

A reminder that the wonderful Last Chance To See TV series sequel to the original radio series is currently available on Netflix in the USA. For now it's just the original 6 episode series from 2009, and not the follow up "Return of the Rhino" episode.  It's a great series, presented by Stephen Fry and Mark Carwardine, and well worth checking out if you've never seen it before.

Douglas Adams talks to Clive Anderson

This is really nice. I probably watched this at the time, but I just stumbled upon this interview on YouTube. Here's Douglas Adams interviewed by Clive Anderson on his Talks Back show including talking about the Last Chance To See book.  Great stuff!

Sudan, the world’s last male Northern White Rhino is dead

Very sad news this morning as we learn of the death of Sudan, the very last male Northern White Rhino. Stephen Fry was among many to Tweet this terrible news. Here's the NBC News article.

The world's last male northern white rhino, Sudan, has died after "age-related complications," researchers announced Tuesday, saying he "stole the heart of many with his dignity and strength." A statement from the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya said the 45-year-old rhino was euthanized on Monday after his condition "worsened significantly" and he was no longer able to stand. His muscles and bones had degenerated and his skin had extensive wounds, with a deep infection on his back right leg.

Bumper Rimu Fruit Crop Expected, Great Kakapo Breeding Season Should Result....

Great news from New Zealand. The Rimu crop this year is going to be exceptional, so everyone is looking forward to a fantastic Kakapo breeding season! Here's a Tweet from Dr Andrew Digby.

Oh WOW. Rimu new fruit counts from Whenua Hou just in, and they've blown us away: median=47%! That’s huge, even compared to previous big breeding years: 2002=38%, 2009=35%. 2019 could be MASSIVE for #kakapo!

And another Tweet...

Some people don’t like graphs, so here’s another take on new rimu counts. 2016 was biggest #kakapo breeding season in living memory, with 122 eggs. Next year there'll likely be twice as much breeding food...

World's last male Northern White Rhino Sudan improves slightly

Sad news of the day is that while Sudan has improved slightly "his carers said his future was "not looking bright". BBC News has the story.

The 45-year-old is one of just three remaining northern white rhinos and is the only male. Attempts to mate him with the two surviving female rhinos failed, however, and an account was created for him on the dating app Tinder last year, not in order not to find love, but to help fund the development of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) for rhinos. The move won him fans across the world - many of whom were devastated on hearing news of his "ailing condition" last Thursday.

Last Chance To See TV Series Now Available on Netflix in USA

Very happy to report that Netflix in the USA now carries the Last Chance To See TV series for streaming. For now it's just the original 6 episode series from 2009, and not the follow up "Return of the Rhino" episode.

New Zealand kakapo sees bumper breeding season - up to 157!

Wonderful news from New Zealand this year, with Kakapo numbers up to 157. Here's BBC News picked up the story from the NZ Herald and Post.

There's good news for one of the world's rarest birds, after a successful breeding season saw its numbers boom by 28%. The critically endangered kakapo now has a population of 157, after a record-breaking 34 chicks joined the ranks this year, the New Zealand Herald reports. The rotund, flightless parrots are only found in New Zealand, where they live on three predator-free islands.

Kakapo Breeding Season Going Great Guns

The 2016 Kakapo breeding season is going great. This recent updated from the Kakapo Recovery Facebook page....

Kākāpō breeding season is in full swing: 43 females mated, 43 nests, 106 eggs across 3 islands, with around 50% fertility. It's a busy one! More details coming soon.

Exciting times!!

14th Douglas Adams Memorial Lecture, March 10th 2016

The 14th Douglas Adams Memorial Lecture will be presented by Professor Alice Roberts and will take place at the Royal Geographical Society in London on Thursday March 10th, 2016.

Possible sightings of the baiji dolphin?

To be taken with a teaspoon of salt but the BBC reports that there are still occasional possible sightings of our favorite pink dolphin. Can you ever be sure that an endangered species has gone extinct?

Death of rare Northern White Rhino leaves four alive

One of the last five Northern White Rhino left in the world has died. The BBC has the sad news.

Nabire, a 31-year-old female, died at the Dvur Kralove zoo in the Czech Republic on Monday evening of a ruptured cyst. Her death leaves just three females and one male alive; one of them at the San Diego Zoo and three at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy reserve in Kenya.

The Last Male Northern White Rhino

Sudan, the last male Northern White Rhino is not expected to be able to father any new calves. A recent article from the Mirror.

After 35-years in captivity Sudan is living out his final years at Ol Pejeta conservancy in central Kenya's Laikipia, surrounded by a team of armed guards. With his back legs weakening and his sperm count lowering the chances of Sudan being able to mount a female and sire more offspring diminishes daily.

Elllie the Kakapo Found Dead

Sad news from New Zealand. Ellie the Kakapo has been found dead. Stuff.co.nz has the story.

Kakapo Recovery rangers found her body last week, although there was no obvious sign of illness or injury. Data from Ellie's transmitter confirmed she had died about June 23.

Michal Palin's Kakapo Tweet of the Day

Monty Python alumni and world traveler Michael Palin recently recorded a flock of BBC Radio 4's "Tweet of the Day" podcasts, including our beloved Kakapo Parrot. Here's a few words from Michael on why he joined the series.