The kākāpō

The kākāpō is a nocturnal, flightless parrot that is critically endangered and one of New Zealand’s unique treasures

The kākāpō, also known as the owl parrot, is a large, forest-dwelling bird, with a pale owl-like face. Up to 64 cm in length, it has predominantly yellow-green feathers, forward-facing eyes, a large grey beak, large blue feet, and relatively short wings and tail. It is the world’s only flightless parrot (Q1), and is also possibly one of the world’s longest-living birds, with a reported lifespan of up to 100 years. Kākāpō are solitary birds and tend to occupy the same home range for many years. They forage on the ground and climb high into trees. They often leap from trees and flap their wings, but at best manage a controlled descent to the ground. They are entirely vegetarian, with their diet including the leaves, roots and bark of trees as well as bulbs, and fern fronds. (Q7) Kākāpō breed in summer and autumn, but only in years when food is plentiful. (Q2) Males play no part in incubation or chick-rearing – females alone incubate eggs and feed the chicks. (Q3) The 1-4 eggs are laid in soil, which is repeatedly turned over before and during incubation. (Q8) The female kākāpō has to spend long periods away from the nest searching for food, which leaves the unattended eggs and chicks particularly vulnerable to predators.

Before humans arrived, kākāpō were common throughout New Zealand’s forests. However, this all changed with the arrival of the first Polynesian settlers about 700 years ago. For the early settlers, the flightless kākāpō was easy prey. They ate its meat and used its feathers to make soft cloaks (Q9). With them came the Polynesian dog and rat, which also preyed on kākāpō. (Q4) By the time European colonisers arrived in the early 1800s, kākāpō had become confined to the central North Island and forested parts of the South Island. The fall in kākāpō numbers was accelerated by European colonisation. A great deal of habitat was lost through forest clearance, and introduced species such as deer depleted the remaining forests of food. (Q10) Other predators such as cats, stoats and two more species of rat were also introduced. The kākāpō were in serious trouble.

In 1894, the New Zealand government launched its first attempt to save the kākāpō. Conservationist Richard Henry led an effort to relocate several hundred of the birds to predator-free Resolution Island in Fiordland. Unfortunately, the island didn’t remain predator free – stoats arrived within six years, eventually destroying the kākāpō population. By the mid-1900s, the kākāpō was practically a lost species. Only a few clung to life in the most isolated parts of New Zealand. From 1949 to 1973, the newly formed New Zealand Wildlife Service made over 60 expeditions to find kākāpō, focusing mainly on Fiordland. Six were caught, but there were no females amongst them and all but one died within a few months of captivity. In 1974, a new initiative was launched, and by 1977, 18 more kākāpō were found in Fiordland. However, there were still no females. In 1977, a large population of males was spotted in Rakiura – a large island free from stoats, ferrets and weasels. There were about 200 individuals, and in 1980 it was confirmed females were also present. (Q11) These birds have been the foundation of all subsequent work in managing the species. Unfortunately, predation by feral cats on Rakiura Island led to a rapid decline in kākāpō numbers. As a result, during 1980-97, the surviving population was evacuated to three island sanctuaries: Codfish Island, Maud Island and Little Barrier Island. (Q5) However, breeding success was hard to achieve. Rats were found to be a major predator of kākāpō chicks and an insufficient number of chicks survived to offset adult mortality. By 1995, although at least 12 chicks had been produced on the islands, only three had survived. The kākāpō population had dropped to 51 birds. The critical situation prompted an urgent review of kākāpō management in New Zealand.

In 1996, a new Recovery Plan was launched, together with a specialist advisory group called the Kākāpō Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee and a higher amount of funding. (Q12) Renewed steps were taken to control predators on the three islands. Cats were eradicated from Little Barrier Island in 1980, and possums were eradicated from Codfish Island by 1986. However, the population did not start to increase until rats were removed from all three islands, and the birds were more intensively managed. This involved moving the birds between islands, supplementary feeding of adults and rescuing and hand-raising any failing chicks. (Q6) After the first five years of the Recovery Plan, the population was on target. By 2000, five new females had been produced, and the total population had grown to 62 birds. For the first time, there was cautious optimism for the future of kākāpō and by June 2020, a total of 210 birds was recorded. Today, kākāpō management continues to be guided by the kākāpō Recovery Plan. Its key goals are: minimise the loss of genetic diversity in the kākāpō population, restore or maintain sufficient habitat to accommodate the expected increase in the kākāpō population, and ensure stakeholders continue to be fully engaged in the preservation of the species. (Q13)

 

Questions 1–6

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1?

In boxes 1–6 on your answer sheet, write 

TRUE if the statement agrees with the information

FALSE if the statement contradicts the information

NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this

1. There are other parrots that share the kākāpō’s inability to fly.
2. Adult kākāpō produce chicks every year.
3. Adult male kākāpō bring food back to nesting females.
4. The Polynesian rat was a greater threat to the kākāpō than Polynesian settlers.
5. Kākāpō were transferred from Rakiura Island to other locations because they were at risk from feral cats.
6. One Recovery Plan initiative that helped increase the kākāpō population size was caring for struggling young birds.

 

Questions 7–13

Complete the notes below.

Choose ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage for each answer.

New Zealand’s kākāpō – A type of parrot:

Diet consists of fern fronds, various parts of a tree and 7 __________.

Nests are created in 8 __________ where eggs are laid.

 

Arrival of Polynesian settlers:

The 9 __________ of the kākāpō were used to make clothes.

 

Arrival of European colonisers:

10 __________ were an animal which they introduced that ate the kākāpō’s food sources.

 

Protecting kākāpō:

Richard Henry, a conservationist, tried to protect the kākāpō.

A definite sighting of female kākāpō on Rakiura Island was reported in the year 

11 __________.

The Recovery Plan included an increase in 12 __________.

A current goal of the Recovery Plan is to maintain the involvement of 13 __________ in kākāpō protection.

 

ĐÁP ÁN VÀ GIẢI THÍCH

Câu hỏi	Đáp án	Từ khóa trong câu hỏi	Từ đồng nghĩa trong bài	Giải thích
1	FALSE	There are other parrots that share the kākāpō’s inability to fly.	It is the world’s only flightless parrot, …	Đây là loài vẹt duy nhất không biết bay trên thế giới ⇒ Mâu thuẫn với câu hỏi.
2	FALSE	Adult kākāpō produce chicks every year.	Kākāpō breed in summer and autumn, but only in years when food is plentiful.	Chim Kākāpō sinh sản vào mùa hè và mùa thu, nhưng chỉ trong những năm có nguồn thức ăn dồi dào. ⇒ Mâu thuẫn với câu hỏi.
3	FALSE	Adult male kākāpō bring food back to nesting females.	Males play no part in incubation or chick-rearing – females alone incubate eggs and feed the chicks.	Con đực không có vai trò gì trong quá trình ấp trứng và nuôi con – con cái một mình ấp trứng và cho con ăn. ⇒ Mâu thuẫn với câu hỏi.
4	NOT GIVEN	The Polynesian rat was a greater threat to the kākāpō than Polynesian settlers.	However, this all changed with the arrival of the first Polynesian settlers about 700 years ago. For the early settlers, the flightless kākāpō was easy prey. They ate its meat and used its feathers to make soft cloaks. With them came the Polynesian dog and rat, which also preyed on kākāpō.	Cả người Polynesian lẫn chuột và chó mà đến cùng họ đều ăn thịt chim kākāpō, tuy nhiên không có thông tin so sánh ai gây ra nhiều đe dọa hơn cho kākāpō.
5	TRUE	Kākāpō were transferred from Rakiura Island to other locations because they were at risk from feral cats.	Unfortunately, predation by feral cats on Rakiura Island led to a rapid decline in kākāpō numbers. As a result, during 1980-97, the surviving population was evacuated to three island sanctuaries: Codfish Island, Maud Island and Little Barrier Island.	Việc feral cats săn đuổi kākāpō trên đảo Rakiura đã khiến số lượng loài này giảm mạnh. Kết quả là trong giai đoạn 1980-97, các cá thể còn sống sót đã được di tản tới ba địa điểm cư trú trên hòn đảo.
6	TRUE	One Recovery Plan initiative that helped increase the kākāpō population size was caring for struggling young birds.	However, the population did not start to increase until rats were removed from all three islands, and the birds were more intensively managed. This involved moving the birds between islands, supplementary feeding of adults and rescuing and hand-raising any failing chicks.	Tuy nhiên, số lượng loài chim này chỉ bắt đầu tăng lên sau khi chuột bị loại bỏ hoàn toàn khỏi cả ba hòn đảo, và chim được quản lý chặt chẽ hơn. Việc này bao gồm di chuyển chim giữa các đảo, bổ sung thức ăn cho chim trưởng thành và giải cứu cũng như nuôi dưỡng bằng tay những con non yếu ớt.
7	bulbs	Diet consists of fern fronds, various parts of a tree and __________.	They are entirely vegetarian, with their diet including the leaves, roots and bark of trees as well as bulbs, and fern fronds.	Chúng là loài thuần ăn chay, với chế độ ăn bao gồm lá, rễ và vỏ cây cũng như các loại thực vật thân hành và lá dương xỉ.
8	soil	Nests are created in __________ where eggs are laid.	The 1-4 eggs are laid in soil, which is repeatedly turned over before and during incubation.	1 đến 4 quả trứng được đẻ xuống đất, mà thường xuyên được lật trước và trong quá trình ấp ứng.
9	feathers	The __________ of the kākāpō were used to make clothes.	They ate its meat and used its feathers to make soft cloaks.	Con người ăn thịt chim và dùng lông của chúng để làm áo choàng mềm.
10	deer	__________ were an animal which they introduced that ate the kākāpō’s food sources.	…, and introduced species such as deer depleted the remaining forests of food.	Người ta đưa những loài mới như hươu đến và chúng đã ăn cạn kiệt những cánh rừng còn lại mà vốn là thức ăn của kākāpō.
11	1980	A definite sighting of female kākāpō on Rakiura Island was reported in the year __________.	In 1977, a large population of males was spotted in Rakiura – a large island free from stoats, ferrets and weasels. There were about 200 individuals, and in 1980 it was confirmed females were also present.	Vào năm 1977, một quần thể chim đực lớn đã được nhìn thấy ở Rakiura. Có khoảng 200 cá thể, và vào năm 1980 thì người ta đã xác nhận rằng trong số đó có cả con cái.
12	funding	The Recovery Plan included an increase in __________.	In 1996, a new Recovery Plan was launched, together with a specialist advisory group called the Kākāpō Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee and a higher amount of funding.	Vào năm 1996, một dự án khôi phục mới đã được triển khai, với một đội ngũ chuyên gia tư vấn và nguồn ngân sách lớn hơn.
13	stakeholders	A current goal of the Recovery Plan is to maintain the involvement of __________ in kākāpō protection.	Its key goals are: minimise the loss of genetic diversity in the kākāpō population, restore or maintain sufficient habitat to accommodate the expected increase in the kākāpō population, and ensure stakeholders continue to be fully engaged in the preservation of the species.	Một trong các mục tiêu chính hiện nay là đảm bảo các bên liên quan sẽ tiếp tục tham gia vào quá trình bảo tồn loài chim này.