As you would expect from an island with unspoilt terrain, Stewart is home to many species of bird including 20,000 of the endangered brown kiwi, the flightless Stewart Island kiwi and the nearly extinct kakapo parrot. (directferries.com)
Aggressive conservation might also mean killing off newcomer species to preserve or make room for local flora and fauna; in New Zealand, rat extirpations have helped kakapos survive. (scientificamerican.com)
A well - developed sense of smell may help the nocturnal kakapo find food in the dark. (sciencemag.org)