takahe

The takahe, native to New Zealand, was once thought to be extinct, but now its habitat is protected and numbers are gradually increasing. In 1995 there were approximately 180 birds.

Flightless bird Porphyrio mantelli of the rail family, order Gruiformes, native to New Zealand. It is about 60 cm/2 ft tall and weighs just over 2 kg/4.4 lb, with blue and green plumage and a red bill. The takahe was thought to have become extinct at the end of the 19th century, but in 1948 small numbers were rediscovered in the tussock grass of a mountain valley on South Island.