After 10,000 years of inbreeding, Rakiura/Stewart Island kākāpō have been found to be in surprisingly good genetic health.
A major international study reveals the kākāpō have lost harmful mutations due to inbreeding.
This is good news for them and for other endangered species, suggesting it is possible for small populations to survive even if isolated for hundreds of generations.
University of Otago Professor Bruce Robertson has been studying kākāpō genes for 25 years.
He spoke to Corin Dann
