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

Following in the footsteps of Douglas Adams, Stephen Fry joins Mark Carwardine to travel to some of the most remote places on earth in search of endangered animals.

FInd out more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/lastchancetosee

Stephen and Mark encounter a kakapo and discuss its traits and lifespan with the team/

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• New
• Zealand
• parrot
• bird
• kakapo
• Stephen
• Fry
• stephen
• fry
• last
• chance
• to
• see
• lastchancetosee
• bbc
• two
• bbctwo
• bbc2

[atisenif]

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

[Horseplay71]

And the parrot...

[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.

[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.

[verticalsmurf]

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

[DAGONLINUX]

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

[applecrumping33]

such an innocent creature.

[thesilversakura]

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

[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.

[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.

[CaptainPengu]

so cute.

HNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNG