The takahe, with its striking blue-green plumage and stout, prehistoric build, is a flightless bird found only in New Zealand. Once abundant across both the North and South Islands, the bird’s numbers dwindled with the North Island takahe disappearing entirely centuries ago.
The South Island takahe (Porphyrio hochstetteri), declared extinct by ornithologists in 1898, survived, hidden away in remote alpine valleys, holding deep cultural significance for the Māori, the indigenous people of New Zealand.
In Māori legends, the bird is a taonga (treasure), and its rediscovery in 1948 wasn’t just a biological miracle—it reignited a nation’s commitment to preserving its unique biodiversity.
The Lost Years Of The South Island Takahe Ended In 1948, Thanks To One Doctor
For nearly half a century, the South Island takahe was believed to be extinct. But in 1948, a series of mysterious clues—unrecognized bird calls and unusual footprints—near Lake Te Anau rekindled hope. Dr. Geoffrey Orbell, a medical doctor with a passion for natural history, assembled a small team to investigate.
On November 20, 1948, he and his team embarked on a challenging expedition into the rugged and remote Murchison Mountains, a place of steep valleys, thick vegetation and harsh alpine conditions. Armed with little more than their instincts and a few tools, they navigated terrain so isolated that it had rarely, if ever, been explored.
Guided by reports of the strange footprints and calls, they pressed deeper into the wilderness.
The breakthrough came when they spotted a bird unlike any they had seen—a stout, brightly colored creature with a striking mix of blue and green plumage and a red beak. The takahe, long presumed dead and gone, stood before them blissfully unaware how close they had come to vanishing off of the face of the planet.
Capturing this discovery was no easy feat, but Dr. Orbell and his team managed to document the sighting through photographs and physical evidence. The rediscovery made headlines worldwide, breathing new life into the study of conservation biology.
The Takahe Are Birds Of Unique Habit
This expedition not only proved the resilience of the South Island takahe but also brought attention to its unique habits. The bird thrives in alpine grasslands, feeding on tussock grass by stripping its leaves to reach the soft bases. They descend to lower altitudes during winter, sheltering in forested areas. Takahe are monogamous, forming long-term pair bonds, and raise a single chick per season, carefully guarding their nests hidden in dense vegetation.
The rediscovery was a triumph of human persistence and ecological curiosity, but it also underscored the fragility of species in the face of habitat destruction and introduced predators. The effort to find the takahe was the first step in a long journey to conserve not just a bird, but a symbol of New Zealand’s wild heritage.
Conservation Efforts Began The Minute We Rediscovered The Takahe
When news broke that the takahe still existed in the wild, it sent shockwaves across New Zealand and beyond. The rediscovery sparked an immediate call to action, as conservationists and government officials recognized the importance of safeguarding this rare and iconic species.
One of the first responses was to designate the Murchison Mountains as a protected area, ensuring that the bird’s natural habitat remained undisturbed by human activities or introduced predators like stoats and rats, which had decimated native bird populations across the country.
The New Zealand Wildlife Service, a precursor to today’s Department of Conservation, quickly established a program dedicated to the takahe’s survival. Early efforts included predator control, habitat restoration and close monitoring of the remaining population. Field researchers began studying the birds’ behavior, diet and breeding patterns to understand their needs and challenges better.
As the years went on, conservation efforts became more sophisticated. A captive breeding program was initiated to boost numbers and create a safety net for the species. Birds were relocated to predator-free sanctuaries such as Tiritiri Matangi and Kapiti Island, where they could breed and thrive in secure environments.
The Takahe Today—A Success Story Of Cautious Optimism
Today, the takahe is a shining example of how dedicated conservation efforts can bring a species back from the brink of extinction. From just a small population rediscovered in 1948, the takahe population has steadily grown to around 500 individuals as of recent estimates. While this number may still seem modest, it represents an incredible recovery for a bird once presumed extinct.
The takahe is currently listed as “Endangered” on the IUCN Red List, reflecting its fragile status but acknowledging the significant strides made in its conservation. Their population is spread across carefully monitored predator-free sanctuaries and other mainland reserves, as well as their original home in the Murchison Mountains.
These sanctuaries have been pivotal in reducing the threats that once devastated takahe populations, such as predation by introduced mammals like stoats and habitat destruction due to land clearance.
One of the key reasons for the cautious optimism conservationist feel today is that many of the factors that led to the Takahe’s near-extinction have been addressed. Intensive predator control programs have minimized the impact of invasive species, and the establishment of predator-free sanctuaries provides safe environments for breeding and raising chicks. Additionally, New Zealand’s conservation ethos and public awareness have created widespread support for protecting the takahe and other native species.
However, challenges remain. The takahe’s slow reproductive cycle and specialized habitat requirements mean that its recovery is still vulnerable to environmental changes, disease outbreaks and funding constraints. Conservationists continue to monitor populations closely, ensuring that this remarkable bird is given every chance to thrive in its restored habitats.
The Takahe’s journey from presumed extinction to a conservation success story is a testament to the incredible power the natural world holds over humanity. But how connected are you—as one individual—to the environment around you? Take this quick test to find out: Connectedness to Nature Scale.