# Kākāpō Files II 03 | Kākāpō Countdown

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/wild-sounds-k-k-p-files-ii-7222314/k-k-p-files-ii-03-k-k-p-countdown
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/wild-sounds-k-k-p-files-ii-7222314/k-k-p-files-ii-03-k-k-p-countdown.md
Podcast: [Wild Sounds: Kākāpō Files II](https://stenobird.com/podcast/wild-sounds-k-k-p-files-ii-7222314)
Published: 2025-12-29T16:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://www.rnz.co.nz/podcast/wild-sounds?share=5b0cb1fb-227f-4290-bce0-41b152bf5bb6
Audio file: https://flex.acast.com/media.rnztools.nz/rnz-kete-oro-prod/video/private/ac_mp3,af_48000,br_192k,f_mp3,fl_attachment/v1766972817/audio/kakapo/ocw-20251229-1700-kfii_ep_3_kakapo_countdown.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/wild-sounds-k-k-p-files-ii-7222314/episodes/k-k-p-files-ii-03-k-k-p-countdown
Duration seconds: 1023

## Resource

It’s nearly the New Year and we’re counting down to the start of a big kākāpō breeding season. Island ranger Maddy Whittaker tells Alison Ballance that Pearl and Boss are the first kākāpō to mate. Deidre Vercoe, operations manager for the Kākāpō Team, explains that kākāpō mums on Whenua Hou will get wrap-round support, while management on Anchor Island and Te Kakahu/Chalky Island will be more hands-off. Scientist Andrew Digby talks about the role of technology in making this possible, and digs into the kākāpō’s boring gut microbiome. Technical advisor Daryl Eason introduces founder female Margaret-Maree, matriarch of a lineage with five living generations. Send any Kākāpō Files questions and comments to kakapo@rnz.co.nz In this episode: 00:00 – Introduction 00:53 – Kākāpō ranger Maddy Whittaker with news that Pearl and Boss on Whenua Hou are the first kākāpō to mate. 06:02 – Operations Manager of the Kākāpō Recovery Programme Deidre Vercoe explains that kākāpō mums on Whenua Hou will get wrap-round support, while management on Anchor Island and Te Kakahu / Chalky Island will be more hands-off. 10:08 – Science Advisor Andrew Digby talks about the role of technology and the kākāpō’s dull microbiome. 13:24 – Technical Advisor Daryl Eason introduces Margaret-Maree, matriarch of a dynasty with five living generations. 16:18 – Closing credits… Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

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