Ugly animals on the brink of extinction have been thrust into the conservation limelight – and one of them is New Zealand's native, the kakapo.

Cute, furry, cuddly mammals have held the world's attention for too long, says the Ugly Animals Society.

To fight the issue, they recruited performers to state their cases for an ugly, neglected species.

Audiences would then vote for their favourite "aesthetically challenged" endangered creature, and the winner would become the mascot for the society.

Making the list were the proboscis monkey, the Myers' Surinam toad, and the kakapo.

Science presenter and comic Steve Mould represented the kakapo, saying it encapsulated the fragility of life that had "evolved in a bubble" – that bubble being New Zealand.

Because it had evolved in a bubble, it had no fear response for predators, tending to be curious instead.

"'Who's this?' the kakapo would say. 'Oh - I'm in its mouth'," Mould said.

The kakapo's odd-looking appearance was down to the fact it looked almost human, he said.

"Stephen Fry once described it as an old Victorian gentleman – it's very human-looking," he said.

"But it's not human – and that combination weirdly makes it very ugly indeed."

The comedians made their campaign films, and the mascot vote will run to 5pm on September 11.

To vote, viewers have to "like" the film of choice.



