Extinct Animal : Takahe

This flightless bird lives in New Zealand's scrub and grasslands. Its near extinction began with hunting pressure by Stone Age Polynesians one thousand years ago and continued with the introduction of predators (especially the stoat) and grazing animals such as the red deer by European settlers.

By 1900, the birds were believed to be extinct. However, the species was rediscovered in 1948 in an almost inaccessible valley on South Island. A reserve was immediately established, and now there are about 250 takahé living in an approximately 500 square kilometre area. The takahé has not bred in captivity and has not been seen on North Island since the late 1800s.