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.