Stephen Fry: Kakapo Parrot Encounter - Last Chance to See - BBC Two

[liedata011]

Kakapo: "Get your filthy hands off me you dirty ape!"

[delmarae100]

The Moa were eaten by Maori, thats true, however smaller examples of the species still existed in pockets of NZ up to colonisation, the European slash and burn tactics combined with predation by Maori ended them.

[DAGONLINUX]

WHY DON'T THEY BREED THESE BIRDS? AND SELL THEM AS PETS?



[verticalsmurf]

@DAGONLINUX - Seing how they only mate every other year and only when a particular tree is in fruit, I don't think many breeders would be interested. As for them being pets, Kakapo are nocturnal and live to be over 100. I'm guessing there is only a tiny market for long living noctournal parrots that like to dig.

[applecrumping33]

such an innocent creature.

[PhysicalsimForever]

The Maoris wiped out the Moa by 1600 and the Haast Eagle by 1750 - two of the largest (and strangest) birds to have existed. I don't, however, think they affected the kakapo because the Maoris never overlapped with them. Th real damage was done with the 'accidental' introduction of the stoats.

BTW: The Moa and Kiwi are so famous they have a beer and a fruit named after them, respectively.

[CaptainPengu]

so cute.

HNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNG­

[DrunkenPiano]

I think having them as a pet would be a great idea because people could breed them and save the species. Not to mention we could domesticate them and have them live longer.

[thesilversakura]

@DrunkenPiano But there would always be some who mistreat them and take advantage, like all the domesticated animals nowadays.

[jaylias]

can you imagine, this wonderful flock of flightless birds living in harmony... and then the Europeans come. Bringing with them animal predators which happen to enjoy free food! Birds that cannot fly OR defend themselves! animal extinction it makes me want to cry :'(

[seanusmcsean]

@jaylias to be fair, the Mauri people wiped out the Moa and Haast Eagle well before Europeans ever arrived in New Zealand. Still it would be a shame if these birds were to become extinct.

[kingdomofheaven666]

Can we just have them as pets XD

[gooddarkjedi]

lets hope that these marvelous creatures wont go extiction.

[soobwhale]

@gooddarkjedi I hope they dont either. They're so beautiful.

[theclaudiacat6]

Pollywanna Humpin!

[2Drocks011]

I'm all over helping animals, but it's really sad when people only remember bigger animals that aren't in as much danger. Like Polar Bears and Whales. And nobody

remembers the kakapo and the kiwi.

[sk8rcamboy1]

He's a little fat shit, huh?

[wickedgal666]

kakapo is cute !

[Hortenzia64]

"ouch,may i say" :D stephen is lovely and incredibly charming when dealing with those animals, great choice =)

[thesparitan]

120 years old and older my god

[JEJEJERELYN]

thats a really cute bird :)))

[genesg60]

Lovely... Well done! <3

[panthera50]

What a beautiful bird. =)

[Wowbagger86]

Whit that few animals left, wouldn't it be a problem with inbreeding? Would that make the kakapoes less intelligent in the coming generations? I'm not trying to be an asshole ;) It's just that I find it interesting, and was wondering a bit about that.

[chadwarlock]

Yes, there's always a risk of that. For that reason, in any captive breeding or managed breeding programme, a studbook is kept, showing which animals have mated with which. The idea is to mate individuals which are as distantly related as possible, as this maximises heterozygosity and minimises the adverse effects of inbreeding.

[Wowbagger86]

That's interesting! Thank you :) I guess it get's harder through the generations of birds to keep order at such stuff. In the beginning they might come from all over the place, bu then they starts mateing and their offspring become relatives. It's makeing me crosseyed ;) Glad they have pro's to do it... I would have made a gigantic mess out of it...

[imtooold2]

You said a mouthful, Wowbagger86! In my earnest and sincere attempt to help save these wonderful creatures, I, too, probably would have made a fine mess of things :) Yes, I agree, let's leave to the professionals!

[womanofnoimportance]

It's not a problem. Consider yourself reassured. :)

[jpanda1342]

inteligence isn't really an issue. its more down to genetic disesases becoming more common and defects not being bred out. but then again they seem ok. theres a species of duck that was repopulated from 1 female and a clutch of eggs and they're going ok now.

[Wowbagger86]

I guess nature sort things out after a while :)

[OakHavens]

Stephen Fry is so lovely! He is just my asbolute idol. <3

[eriklares90]

so cute, a lot larger than i expected.

[911lex]

The kakapo, or Stephen Fry?!

[eriklares90]

the kakapo

[Wowbagger86]

Stephen Fry seems like a good choise as replacement for Douglas Adams (rip.) Great British comedian/autor etc who don't take himself to serious... It's gonna be way fun!

[Kilikilaya]

I want to get one. Better than rearing a chicken.

[HorseCrazyGrl167]

Awh!! So cute XD

[therealkraas]

Stephen Fry + kakapo = win, apparently #_#

[Tropicaliak]

"ouch, may I say."

nope sorry Stephen you're not permitted. (I just love how he speaks!)

[atisenif]

I'm jealous of a parrot now... I also want a stroke and be called sweetie by Stephen Fry!!!

[medea1990]

@atisenif I want it too!

[BlacknWhitesAlright]

@atisenif

My goodness, that's kinky.

It's also objectively correct, in that any persons not interested in getting a stroke from and being called "sweetie" by Stephen Fry in the capacity of a captured animal is simply not human - oh, wait...

Also, "ouch, may I say!"

[verticalsmurf]

@atisenif I'm jealous of Shephen! I've applied as a volunteer numerous times but they only take Uni students or BBC staff.

[colibri1]

Are you sure you're not American?

[dervlaann]

twat.

[DARKnDODGY]

dont get me wrong..i would only shoot it if i was gonna eat it...

[Horseplay71]

What an extraordinary creature! Lovely.

[Horseplay71]

And the parrot...

[BahaVII]

i love you stephen

[ribsot]

legend

[mxdsij]

cool