South Island Takahē (Porphyrio hochstetteri). Close up head and bill of Takahe, indigenous New Zealand flightless bird foraging grass in a drought

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This image of South Island Takahē (Porphyrio hochstetteri) was taken at Zealandia Urban Ecosanctuary in Wellington, the capital of New Zealand. Survival of nationally vulnerable birds such as Takahe is dependent on conservation efforts such as protection from predators and breeding programmes. The South Island Takahē is the biggest living rail and a reminder of the flightless vegetarian birds once roaming New Zealand. Takahe birds were thought to be extinct until they were discovered to be surviving in the Murchison Mountains west from Lake Te Anau in the South Island. Those birds were translocated to 7 islands and a few mainland sites to ensure their survival from predators as they are flightless, and also to make them accessible to New Zealanders and visitors. Ensuring long term survival of these unique and treasured birds that are endemic to New Zealand is now completely dependent on conservation work, community groups, and the Takahē Recovery Programme. Other Names: Takahe, takahē, South Island Takahē, South Island Takahe, Porphyrio hochstetteri notornis. Identification: Location: Zealandia Urban Ecosanctuary, Te Mana A Tane, Wellington, New Zealand

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Size: 2667px × 4000px
Location: New Zealand
Photo credit: © Caroline Ord-Hume / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: bird, birds, ecosanctuary, ecosantuary, facts, flightless, hochstetteri, island, mana, native, north, nz, porphyrio, sanctuary, south, tahake, takahe, takahē, tane, te, urban, wellington, wildlife, zealand, zealandia