A Word About That Kakapo

You may have already come across this fantasticclip of a beautiful, very confused, critically endangered parrot circulating the interwebs: Yes, this fellow is cute and funny, but more importantly, the video provides reason to tell the rest of his story. The Kakapo (Strigops habroptila) is the fattest, largest, and rarest species of parrot on earth. It is a flightless, nocturnal bird that lives on four offshore islands near New Zealand. Estimates vary, but according to the BBC, there are only 90 left on Earth (after numbers have increased over past decades). The Kakapo feeds on leaves, nectar, fruit, stems, roots, and seeds, and breeds just once every two-five years. I hope, despite the title of this television series, this is not our 'last chance to see' this incredible animal.