A pair of New Zealand's rarest parrots, the kakariki-karaka, is making a significant contribution to saving their species from extinction.
Named Nacho and Trixi, these parrots have hatched 55 chicks in the last two years, representing more than 10% of the global population.
The orange-fronted kakariki-karaka is one of the world's rarest birds, with only about 450 individuals left in the wild and in specialized centers. The species is threatened by predators and habitat destruction.
Nacho and Trixi were paired at the Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust in New Zealand in 2024 and have since set breeding records. This year alone, they have produced 33 chicks.
Wildlife manager Lee Perkaski called Trixi a "supermum." Despite the end of the breeding season, she continues to lay eggs and feed her chicks, with seven more in the latest nest.
Experts highlight that this high breeding rate is crucial for the species' conservation. Staff at the center hope Nacho and Trixi will get some rest after the last nest, but the birds continue actively breeding, offering hope for saving one of the planet's rarest parrot species.
