In the latest effort to prevent the extinction of the takahe birds, two flightless takahe named Waitaa and Bendigo were released at Zealandia sanctuary in New Zealand. This follows the recent release of 18 takahe in the mountains of South Island to boost the small population in the wild. The takahe, once thought to be extinct, were discovered in 1948 in the remote grasslands of the Murchison Mountains. Since then, conservation efforts have helped raise the population to approximately 500 birds.
Takahe birds are plump with a strong red beak, stout legs, and vibrant blue and green feathers. They are often mistaken for thinner swamp hens. These birds breed once a year and can live up to 18 years in the wild and 22 years in sanctuaries. Their diet consists of starchy leaves and seeds. Waitaa and Bendigo join an existing pair of takahe at Zealandia sanctuary on the North Island, which is protected by a predator-exclusion fence.
New Zealand’s native birds are particularly vulnerable to predation due to the introduction of land predators by human settlers. To combat this, nine breeding-age pairs were released at Greenstone Station in an attempt to establish a third wild population on the South Island. The takahe hold cultural and spiritual significance, especially for the Ngāi Tahu Maori tribe.
The conservationists have been actively working on controlling the populations of the takahe’s predators, such as stoats, feral cats, ferrets, and rats. Traps have been installed to mitigate their impact. The South Island takahe is listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, while the North Island takahe is considered extinct.
Although the conservation efforts have been successful in increasing the takahe population, challenges remain in establishing new wild populations. The process takes time, and success is not guaranteed. To ensure the thriving of takahe, further exploration of new sites and continuous learning is necessary to protect these birds for the present and future generations.
