Where does kakapo live on earth?

Answer 1

Kakapo used to be found throughout New Zealand, but as of 2014, they are restricted to just three islands, not two. They are now found only on Anchor Island, Codfish Island (Whenua Hou) and Little Barrier Island (Hauturu).

A substantial population used to live on Stewart Island, but these kakapo were wiped out by the feral cats there.

Answer 2

Kakapo are endemic to New Zealand but are no longer found on the mainland of New Zealand.

Fossil evidence indicates that, prior to Maori and then European occupation of the islands of New Zealand, kakapo were distributed in a range from the far north of North Island to the southern tip of the South Island. These flightless parrots lived in a variety of habitats, including tussock grasslands, scrublands and coastal areas. They also inhabited forests, including those dominated by podocarps (rimu, matai, kahikatea, totara), beeches, tawa, and rata. In Fiordland, areas of avalanche and slip debris with regenerating and heavily fruiting vegetation - such as five finger, wineberry, bush lawyer, tutu, hebes, and coprosmas - were known as "Kakapo gardens". Although conservation efforts began in the late 1800s, no action made any real impact on the conservation of the animals until the 1980s when the Kakapo Recovery Plan was implemented.

Because of predation by cats, dogs, stoats and rats, the remaining birds have been moved to southern islands. In 2014, they are now found only on Anchor Island, Codfish Island (Whenua Hou) and Little Barrier Island (Hauturu). These islands are essentially made up of thick bushland which is closest to the kakapo native habitat.