One female bird's genome has already been sequenced at Duke University, and the group is already collecting DNA from 40 other animals. Those will be completely sequenced by March by New Zealand Genomics Ltd. at the University of Otago. However, the whole project will cost them $100,000, and they're now asking people for help. They're trying to raise $45,000 via Experiment, a crowdfunding website for scientific research. If the scientists reach their goal, an entire animal population's genome will be sequenced for the first time ever, according to Radio New Zealand National.

Kakapos have long life expectancy averaging 95 years, mating every three to five. Their population was decimated when European and Polynesian colonizers brought predators with them, since living on the ground made them vulnerable. They were relocated to predator-free islands when conservation efforts started, but they clearly need a bit more help to grow their numbers.