Kākāpō chick brings hope for bumper breeding season

The first hatching of the breeding season has been described as a dream start (Kākāpō Recovery Programme)
The first hatching of the breeding season has been described as a dream start (Kākāpō Recovery Programme)

A new kākāpō chick has hatched on Fiordland's Anchor Island, for the first time in 26 years.

Seven-year-old Tiwhiri, a first-time mother, hatched the chick. It was discovered by rangers working in the kākāpō recovery programme.

The first hatching of the breeding season has been described as a dream start by Department of Conservation (DOC) Operations Manager Deidre Vercoe.

"To date, 37 females across the two southern islands have mated and we expect most of them will nest, although egg fertility may be an issue."

There's also a lot of attention on another pregnant mother, Kuia. The 18-year-old bird has two eggs due to hatch soon. She's one of three siblings with the unique genes of father Richard Henry, the last remaining Fiordland kākāpō, who died in 2010.

"Her offspring will help maintain genetic diversity in the population", says Ms Vercoe.

Kākāpō chick brings hope for bumper breeding season

First kakapo chick of 2016 with rangers (Kākāpō Recovery Programme)

Many more chicks are expected to hatch over the next few weeks, at both Anchor Island and on Codfish Island, near Stewart Island.

However an older male kākāpō named Smoko died this week on Codfish Island, after what rangers suspect was a fight with another bird.

There are now just 125 kākāpō remaining. The recovery team don't know the age of 31 of the birds, but believe many could be over 60 years old, adding to the importance of a strong breeding season.

An artificial insemination programme is underway to try and increase rates of fertility.

Newshub.