THE CONSERVATION OF CRITICALLY ENDANGERED FLIGHTLESS BIRDS IN NEW-ZEALAND

The current status of Kakapo Strigops habroptilus and Takahe Porphyrio mantelli is described along with recent developments in programmes fo r their conservation. Both species were (at different times) thought t o be effectively extinct, and both have been temporarily reprieved by the discovery of new populations. Population declines have continued, with Kakapo now reduced to less than 50 individuals and Takahe to abou t 150. Kakapo are especially at risk; 87% of the remaining birds are o ver 14 years old and only 17 females are known. Research on relict pop ulations of both species has identified predation and competition from introduced mammals as major threats. Both species have high rates of egg infertility and low survival of young. Increasingly intensive mana gement of both Kakapo and Takahe over recent years has included transl ocation to predator-free island refuges, supplementary feeding to enco urage breeding, clutch manipulation, captive rearing and predator cont rol. All known Kakapo have now been transferred to three island refuge s, where the overall rate of population decline has slowed and supplem entary feeding has apparently encouraged more frequent breeding attemp ts, Takahe conservation has concentrated largely on attempts to increa se the population in Fiordland, New Zealand, through clutch manipulati on and release of captive-reared young, but birds have also been relea sed on four islands, which now hold 19% of the total population. The r elict Fiordland populations of both Kakapo and Takahe were confined to apparently suboptimal habitat. Both species have successfully adapted to novel environments and foods when translocated, and the population s which now exist present improved opportunities for intensive managem ent using a range of conservation techniques to enhance productivity a nd survival. Recent population trends of Kakapo and Takahe are reconst ructed, and the contribution of research to their conservation is revi ewed.