The biggest berry bloom in New Zealand‘s forests in decades has set off a mating frenzy among the critically endangered Kākāpō, the world’s beefiest parrots. With the face of a Muppet and the physique of a Furby, the Kākāpō is an all-around preposterous creature. It’s nocturnal and lime green, and, as science-fiction writer Douglas Adams wrote, […]
Tag: new zealand
Endangered New Zealand bird caught fighting ‘at risk’ reptile in rare footage
Two of New Zealand‘s most rare and beloved animals – a large flightless takahē bird and an ancient tuatara reptile – have been captured chasing and nipping at one another during a bush-floor melee. Nick Fisentzidis, a department of conservation ranger on the pest-free Tiritiri Matangi Island near Auckland, saw the takahē attack the tuatara […]
Many native New Zealand species face threat of extinction, report finds
A major new report on New Zealand‘s environment has revealed a worrying outlook for its unique species and highlighted declining water health, while also noting some improvements in air quality. The ministry of the environment’s three-yearly update, Our Environment 2025, collates statistics, data and research across five domains – air, atmosphere and climate, freshwater, land, […]
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(999x0:1001x2):format(webp)/Great-White-Shark-Kayaker-021325-1b55409d26a24dec97f9fe5733dfecc6.jpg?w=750&resize=750,0&ssl=1 "Teen Kayaker Films Great White Shark Chasing Him as He Paddles to Escape: ‘Don’t Attack Me, Bro’")
Teen Kayaker Films Great White Shark Chasing Him as He Paddles to Escape: ‘Don’t Attack Me, Bro’
A young man is opening up about being chased by a shark while kayaking off the coast of New Zealand. Matt Wells, 19, was recently fishing alone near Cape Rēinga when he encountered the great white shark, according to The New Zealand Herald. Using his fishing camera, which he also records YouTube videos on, Wells […]
Dissecting the world’s rarest whale – in pictures
Conservationists and scientists in New Zealand were astonished to find the world’s rarest whale washed ashore in the South Island in July. As only the seventh spade-toothed whale identified, and with none ever seen alive, this month saw the first dissection of a complete specimen Rangers in New Zealand inspect a beaked whale, believed to […]
Endangered seabirds return to Pacific island after century-long absence
Small seabirds skim the open ocean at night, patting their legs on the surface as they hunt for small fish. Now, for the first time in more than 100 years, endangered Polynesian storm petrels (Nesofregetta fuliginosa) have returned to a far-flung island in French Polynesia. These rare birds began exploring Kamaka Island just three weeks […]
Prehistoric Bird Believed to Be Extinct Returns to the Wild
The recent release of eighteen Takahē birds in the Lake Whakatipu Waimāori Valley on New Zealand‘s South Island holds immense significance. These large, flightless prehistoric bird species were once thought to be extinct and had not been seen roaming these alpine slopes for nearly a century. More about the flightless birds Takahē, the unique creatures […]
