Critically endangered New Zealand parakeet gets lifeline from randy pair

Nacho – part of a breeding pair of the rare New Zealand kakariki karaka parakeets – has produced 55 chicks in two years, more than 10% of the total population of the critically endangered bird. © Leigh Percasky, AFP via The Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust

A critically endangered New Zealand parakeet known as kakariki karaka has seen its numbers surge thanks to a pair of super breeders now responsible for more than 10 percent of the total population. Parents Nacho and Trixie were paired up in 2024 at the Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust in Christchurch and have since produced 55 chicks, including 33 this year alone.

One of the world's rarest parakeets has seen its numbers surge thanks to a pair of super breeders now responsible for more than 10 percent of the total population.

The New Zealand native kakariki karaka – or orange-fronted parakeet – is critically endangered and has twice been declared extinct, only to be rediscovered.

There are around 450 of the birds left, mainly in sanctuaries and predator-free islands but also in wild populations.

Parents Nacho and Trixie were paired up in 2024 at the Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust in Christchurch and have since produced 55 chicks, including 33 this year alone.

Wildlife manager Leigh Percasky praised "super-mum" Trixie.

"The breeding season has ended and yet she's still producing eggs and raising chicks," Percasky said.

Read more'It's blue!': Scientists discover new deep-sea octopus near Galapagos Islands

"Ideally we'd prefer her to stop so she can have a rest, but she shows no signs of that with another seven chicks in her most recent clutch.

"Nacho also deserves credit as he's responsible for finding food for both Trixie and the chicks which is incredibly busy."

Captive breeding

Wayne Beggs, lead of the Department of Conservation's kakariki karaka recovery programme, said breeding pairs like Nacho and Trixie were ensuring the species didn't go extinct.

"We rely on the captive breeding programmes as without them we couldn't establish new sites," Beggs said.

"The wild populations are very vulnerable to predators, so we always need backup populations."

Percasky said Nacho and Trixie had made a "massive contribution" to the survival of their species, but he wants the love birds to "have a well-earned break" after their latest clutch.

"I'm not sure where they get all their energy from."

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)