Our Changing World: A year of mainland kākāpō

<p>In July 2023 four male kākāpō were released into the fenced Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari – part of a new habitat trial to investigate suitable locations for the growing kākāpō population. But after a further six were introduced, the kākāpō began to wander – beyond the fence. A year on, and several escapes later, what’s been learned? And what’s next for kākāpō in Maungatautari? </p><p>There are plenty of night-time wanderers in New Zealand that you might expect to come across driving on back roads – rats, mice, a seemingly endless number of possums.</p><p>But it’s not often that you round a corner to come face to face with a kākāpō.</p><p><strong>Elwin’s escapade</strong></p><p>This was the surprising sight that faced Tyler James Lindsay very early one morning in January 2024.</p><p>A Cambridge local, Tyler was driving a milk tanker along Scott Road, northeast of Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, when suddenly he saw before him a strange shape.</p><p>“Just a big green bird. Just...