Conservation
Giant tortoise feared extinct found on remote Galapagos island
A giant tortoise from a species last seen 110 years ago has been rediscovered on a remote volcanic island in the Galapagos National Park.
Our Changing World for 21 February 2019
A citizen science project on plastic pollution in streams and flying kākāpō sperm takes to the air. Audio
Flying kākāpō sperm
In a world-first for kākāpō conservation, a drone (nicknamed the 'spermcopter') has flown kākāpō sperm across Whenua Hou / Codfish Island - the Kākāpō Files was there for episode 10. Audio
Govt funds research into alternative to 1080
The Government has committed $19.5 million to find alternatives to 1080 poison, in line with New Zealand First's opposition to the pesticide. Audio
Our Changing World for 14 February 2019
The evolution of the Kiwi accent, and many more kakapo eggs and chicks. Audio
On the island
More than 160 kākāpō eggs have been laid and the first 21 chicks have hatched, but there is also news of the first chick death, in episode 9 of the Kākāpō Files. Audio
Archey's frogs thriving in the King Country
The King Country population of the highly threatened Archey's frog is thriving, thanks to years of rat control. Audio
Our Changing World for 7 February 2019
Archey's frogs are thriving thanks to rat control, and the first kakapo chicks have hatched and their mothers are mating again. Audio
Round two begins
The chicks that have hatched are off to Dunedin, the females have started mating again, and there is breeding action on Hauturu, all in episode 8 of the Kākāpō Files. Audio
Our Changing World for 31 January 2019
How to squish drugs through the skin using nanotechnology, and keeping up with the kakapo. Audio
The chicks are hatching
The first two chicks of the 2019 kākāpō breeding season have hatched and the exciting news keeps coming in, in episode 7 of the Kākāpō Files. Audio
The Kākāpō Files: Full House
Forty eight out of fifty kākāpō females on the southern islands have mated, nesting is well underway and the first AI has been carried out, all in episode 6 of the Kākāpō Files. Audio
Our Changing World for 24 January 2019
Fish earbones are tiny treasure troves of information about a fish's life and where it lives, and catching up on all the kakapo breeding action in the first month of the Kakapo Files podcast. Audio
Richmond man admits killing kea at work site
A 46 year-old Richmond man has been convicted for killing a native bird by throwing a wooden builders peg at it and standing on its head.
Super-studs & hitting the reset button
The most popular kākāpō males will get a chance to do it all over again as the females are encouraged to mate and nest for a second time, in episode 5 of the Kākāpō Files. Audio
Action stations
Don't count your kākāpō chicks until they hatch, kākāpō leaky homes and lots more kākāpō sex, all in episode 4 of the Kākāpō Files. Audio
Busy birds
Kākāpō breeding action really kicked off on Christmas Eve and in episode 3 of the Kākāpō Files we discover it is in full swing. Audio
Early birds
In episode 2 of the Kākāpō Files we find out that when it comes to kākāpō breeding the early birds are, well, very early. Audio
Kākāpō - night parrot
The kākāpō is one of the world's rarest birds, and in the first episode of the Kākāpō Files we learn about the giant flightless parrot's 'love triangle.' Audio
Our Changing World for 22 November 2018
The Department of Conservation celebrates 70 years since the momentous rediscovery of takahē in Fiordland with the families of the original discovery party members. Audio
