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In 1898, the takahē was declared extinct. This flightless bird from New Zealand’s South Island was believed to have vanished forever. But fifty years later, in 1948, a small expedition led by Dr. Geoffrey Orbell found a hidden population deep in the Murchison Mountains. That rediscovery kicked off one of the most determined wildlife recovery efforts the country has ever seen.

At the time, only about 200 takahē remained. The government closed off the area to protect them, and by 1957, the first captive-breeding programs were already underway. Now, with decades of careful work, their population has more than doubled. Around 500 takahē live today across secure sites and wild release areas, and the number keeps growing.

Big and Bold

The takahē is the largest surviving member of the rail family, which is a group of ground birds found around the world. At up to 3.8 kilograms (8 pounds), it’s much heavier than its better-known relative, the pūkeko. Its feathers have shades of royal blue, teal, and olive green. And while it can’t fly, it still uses its small wings for balance while climbing or showing off during courtship.

Takahē are built for mountain life. They have strong necks and powerful bills that tear through tough alpine grasses. Most of their diet comes from tussocks and sedges, chicks are sometimes fed insects like beetles and wētā. Their only natural predator is the native falcon, or kārearea. Cold, damp weather doesn’t seem to bother them; they tend to be more active when the temperatures drop.

Today, most wild takahē live in remote alpine grasslands, where they graze during summer and move into forests during winter to dig up plant roots. Some flocks have been relocated to predator-free areas, including mountain valleys and offshore islands, where they can live and breed safely.

The Quiet Life

Takahē live slow and steady lives. Their daily routine revolves around eating, preening, and defending their territory. Pairs often leave long rows of droppings called latrines to mark the edges of their space. A single pair might hold anywhere from 4 to 100 hectares (10 to 250 acres), depending on how much food is around.

They nest once a year and usually raise just one or two chicks. Both parents help with the eggs, and the hatchlings appear with black fluff, brown legs, and stubby little bills.

Most of their food comes from plants, but there are a few strange stories out there. In one sanctuary, a takahē was seen grabbing a duckling and eating it. It’s not typical behavior, but some of their relatives, like the swamphen, have been caught doing the same.

They can live 16 to 18 years in the wild, and even longer in protected areas. Their feathers were once woven into cloaks by Ngāi Tahu, the principal Māori tribe of New Zealand’s South Island. Today, takahē still carries deep cultural meaning.

A Conservation Comeback

The recovery of the takahē isn’t just a story from the past. It’s still unfolding. New Zealand’s Department of Conservation, together with Māori iwi like Ngāi Tahu, continues to release birds into new valleys and expand their safe range.

Their name comes from takahi, a Māori word meaning “to stamp,” a reference to their heavy steps. Today, around 500 birds survive thanks to the work of scientists, rangers, iwi, and communities who refuse to let this species vanish again.

The takahē was once written off as extinct. Now it is walking, feeding, breeding, and holding its ground right where it belongs.

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