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New Zealand's Hidden Island Sanctuary for Critically Endangered Kakapo
28 Aug
Summary
- Codfish Island, or Whenua Hou, is a predator-free sanctuary for the rare kakapo parrot.
- Rangers work in isolation for months to protect kakapo, a critically endangered flightless parrot.
- Decades of conservation efforts have slowly increased the kakapo population from 51 in 1995.
Off the northwestern coast of Stewart Island lies Whenua Hou, also known as Codfish Island, a secluded and predator-free reserve. This forested sanctuary is closed to the public and serves as a critical refuge for the kakapo, a flightless parrot whose existence was once on the brink.
Introduced predators like rats and stoats decimated kakapo populations across New Zealand. By the mid-20th century, the species was critically endangered. Conservationists began relocating the remaining wild birds to predator-free islands, with Whenua Hou becoming central to this strategy after being cleared of pests in 1998.
Access to Whenua Hou requires stringent quarantine protocols to prevent the introduction of invasive species. Rangers and volunteers undertake demanding, isolated work, often living on the island for months at a time. Their tasks include monitoring nests, feeding chicks, and protecting the birds from threats.
This intensive management has led to a slow but steady recovery for the kakapo. Numbers had dwindled to just 51 by 1995, but dedicated efforts on islands like Whenua Hou have helped reverse this decline. Despite setbacks, such as disease outbreaks, the population has significantly increased, a testament to the conservation success.
