Aspergillosis is a disease caused by the fungi Aspergillus, which is extremely common and present in abundance throughout the environment, but which can cause problems in individuals with low immunity. Since the outbreak began on Whenua Hou in April, five chicks and two adult kākāpō (Hoki and Huhana) have died. Another 13 birds have been confirmed with the disease and are receiving veterinary treatment. At the peak of the crisis, almost a fifth of the total population was in hospital for testing and treatment. Recently six of the chicks with aspergillosis have had clear test results, indicating that their symptoms had resolved.

We are extremely grateful to Auckland Zoo, Wildlife Hospital Dunedin and Wildbase at Massey University for their support during this crisis. We are also grateful to our dedicated field team, who went above and beyond to ensure the best outcome for the birds.

Read more from the DOC website

or the latest RNZ kākāpō files