Kakapo Threatened by Fungal Infection! Know Interesting Facts About World’s Fattest Parrots
The latest victim of the Aspergillosis, is Nora 1-A-2019, who is a 100-day-old bird.
Dubbed as the world’s fattest parrot, Kakapo is very unusual of its kind that is mostly found in New Zealand. The researchers are mounting a monument effort to save it from extinction. However, recent news has worried the scientist, as the world’s plumpest parrots are dying as they are being killed by a fungal infection. According to the Auckland Zoo, seven of the chubby chicks, have died from Aspergillosis, which threatens the respiratory system and spreads during the species breeding season. Meet this charming bird, and learn some interesting facts about them. Causes, Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention of Aspergillosis.
Researchers across the globe are doing everything to save many of our species that are in danger and Kakapo is one of them. The latest victim of the Aspergillosis, is Nora 1-A-2019, who is a 100-day-old bird.
Nora 1-A-2019, a 100-day-old bird
Interesting Facts About Kakapo
1. It is the world’s only flightless parrot. They cannot fly and they use their short wings for balance and support rather than flapping. Because they do not fly, their feathers are much softer as compared to other birds.
2. When danger is near, Kakapos freeze and hope to blend into the background. This works! Eagles use their sight to hunt, but it is not so successful with introduced mammalian predators who rely on their sense of smell to find prey.
3. Kakapos rest in trees or on the ground during the day and they are only active at the night hours.
4. The Kakapos smell nice and it is described as a musty-sweet odour. This helps them to find each other in the forest. But it helps the mammalian to find them too.
5. Kakapos are possibly one of the longest-lived birds. Their life expectancy is more than 90 years. Male Kakapos do not start breeding until they are about four years old and females around six years of age.
6. Another sweetest fact is during the breeding season, male kakapos walk up to four miles to reach a special arena where they compete with each other to win the attention of females.
Hearing the fungal infection, the Kakapo supporters have reportedly donated $100,000 (above Rs. 69 Lakh) to help their recovery with more than half of donations from overseas. The Auckland Zoo stated that detecting and treating birds with this potentially fatal disease was extremely difficult.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 16, 2019 07:36 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).