Kakapo
On the island
More than 160 kākāpō eggs have been laid and the first 21 chicks have hatched, but there is also news of the first chick death, in episode 9 of the Kākāpō Files. Audio
Round two begins
The chicks that have hatched are off to Dunedin, the females have started mating again, and there is breeding action on Hauturu, all in episode 8 of the Kākāpō Files. Audio
Our Changing World for 31 January 2019
How to squish drugs through the skin using nanotechnology, and keeping up with the kakapo. Audio
The chicks are hatching
The first two chicks of the 2019 kākāpō breeding season have hatched and the exciting news keeps coming in, in episode 7 of the Kākāpō Files. Audio
The Kākāpō Files: Full House
Forty eight out of fifty kākāpō females on the southern islands have mated, nesting is well underway and the first AI has been carried out, all in episode 6 of the Kākāpō Files. Audio
Our Changing World for 24 January 2019
Fish earbones are tiny treasure troves of information about a fish's life and where it lives, and catching up on all the kakapo breeding action in the first month of the Kakapo Files podcast. Audio
Super-studs & hitting the reset button
The most popular kākāpō males will get a chance to do it all over again as the females are encouraged to mate and nest for a second time, in episode 5 of the Kākāpō Files. Audio
Action stations
Don't count your kākāpō chicks until they hatch, kākāpō leaky homes and lots more kākāpō sex, all in episode 4 of the Kākāpō Files. Audio
Busy birds
Kākāpō breeding action really kicked off on Christmas Eve and in episode 3 of the Kākāpō Files we discover it is in full swing. Audio
Early birds
In episode 2 of the Kākāpō Files we find out that when it comes to kākāpō breeding the early birds are, well, very early. Audio
Kākāpō - night parrot
The kākāpō is one of the world's rarest birds, and in the first episode of the Kākāpō Files we learn about the giant flightless parrot's 'love triangle.' Audio
DNA in fossil bone fragments reveals NZ's lost world
Bags of bone fragments are casting a genetic spotlight on New Zealand's lost natural world, and on the impact of early Polynesians on its biota. Audio
Our Changing World for 26 July 2018
Ancient e-DNA from bits of old bones is shedding new light on New Zealand's "lost world" and the impact of humans, and concerns about Te Papa's natural history collections. Audio
Jeremy Wells and a Kākāpō ejaculation helmet
Before humans, New Zealand was a land of birds. Our recent efforts to save them have sparked some heroic stories... but also some, er, quirky ones. Such as the kakapo ejaculation helmet. Audio
Andrew Digby - Kakapo cursed with crusty bum
Andrew Digby is the science advisor for the kakapo and takahe recovery programmes with the Department of Conservation. He is responsible for coordinating and leading the diverse scientific research… Audio
Tracking kākāpō the smart way
Smart electronic transmitters are revolutionising the way Department of Conservation rangers keep track of kākāpō. Audio
Kākāpō - what genes can tell us
A new genetic study shows that a once abundant kākāpō population declined in numbers and genetic diversity soon after stoats were introduced in the late 1800s. Audio
Conservation Genomics
Firing a crossbow at a sea lion may conflict with ideas about animal conservation but the genetic information gathered allows scientists to study how best to save the species and whether or not it… Audio
Hand-rearing kākāpō chicks
Veronika Meduna visits a veterinary facility in Invercargill where staff look after kākāpō chicks that had to be taken off their island homes to be hand-reared. Audio