Habitat and Ecosystem

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The kakapo used to live in the lowland podocarp (southern hemisphere conifers), upland beech and sub-alpine scrub forests. Since they have become relocated to different predator free areas, their ecosystem is not that different from their regular environment. They are still living near the regions of their previous home in three islands called Stewart, Codfish, and Little Barrier.

In Stewart Island, its houses many endangered species besides the kakapo. It is a good island for this because there isn't heavy settlement and there is a lot of space for the different species to roam around.

Codfish Island is a predator-free area focusing on mostly the recovery of the kakapo and other birds. The only people that inhabit the area are scientific researchers, recovery teams and volunteers. It is home to about half the remain kakapo in the wild. It is mostly forested area with some rocky shores on 14 square kilometres.

Little Barrier island is a steeply sloped area with many deep ravines. It is one of New Zealands best conservation places with its land area cut off from the rest of the world. Visitors are restricted and you need special access to get in. Like Codfish Island, there are mostly scientists and conservation staff living in the island.

As I mentioned before, like the ostrich and the penguin; the kakapo cannot fly. It can both roost in the trees and on the ground. Because it cannot fly, what replaces that particular disability is the kakapo's exceptionally strong legs. With those legs, the kakapo can climb trees and jog several kilometres a night.  It is a ground-dwelling primary consumer (herbivore) that eats plants, seeds, pollen, and fruit. It is particularly fond of the fruit of the rimu tree. Their diet changes from season to season, and the kakapo usually leaves evidence of them feeding in that area.

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