Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: TWO critically endangered parakeets have been hailed as “super breeders” in New Zealand after the pair produced 55 chicks in two years — increasing the population by more than 10 per cent.
The native kākāriki karaka, or orange-fronted parakeet, was declared extinct in 1919 and 1965, only to be rediscovered both times in the depths of mountainous valley areas. It is the country’s rarest parakeet. Now, there are only about 450 left in the wild and in captivity.
Conservationists are doing all they can to prevent the bird from going extinct a third time by creating predator-free sanctuaries and running breeding programmes. Giving them a large helping hand are Trixie and Nacho, two kākāriki karaka who live at the Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust in Christchurch.
They were paired in 2024 and of the 55 chicks they produced, 33 alone hatched this season, from December to April. In comparison, other pairs in the breeding programme have produced between 10 and 15 chicks, according to Leigh Percasky, wildlife manager at the Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust.
