One of the world’s rarest parakeets has seen its numbers surge thanks to a pair of super breeders now responsible for more than 10 percent of the total population.
The New Zealand native kakariki karaka — or orange-fronted parakeet — is critically endangered and has twice been declared extinct, only to be rediscovered.
There are about 450 of the birds left, mainly in sanctuaries and predator-free islands, but also in wild populations.
Parents Nacho and Trixie were paired up in 2024 at the Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust in Christchurch and have since produced 55 chicks, including 33 this year alone.
Wildlife manager Leigh Percasky praised “super-mum” Trixie.
“The breeding season has ended and yet she’s still producing eggs and raising chicks,” Percasky said. “Ideally we’d prefer her to stop so she can have a rest, but she shows no signs of that with another seven chicks in her most recent clutch.”
“Nacho also deserves credit, as he’s responsible for finding food for both Trixie and the chicks, which is incredibly busy,” he said.
Wayne Beggs, lead of the New Zealand Department of Conservation’s kakariki karaka recovery program, said breeding pairs such as Nacho and Trixie were ensuring that the species does not go extinct.
“We rely on the captive breeding programs, as without them we couldn’t establish new sites,” Beggs said. “The wild populations are very vulnerable to predators, so we always need backup populations.”
Percasky said that Nacho and Trixie had made a “massive contribution” to the survival of their species, but he wants the love birds to “have a well-earned break” after their latest clutch.
“I’m not sure where they get all their energy from,” he added.
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