Rare Takahē Chick Hatches at Zealandia Urban Eco-Sanctuary in Wellington
A seven-week-old takahē chick has hatched at Zealandia, an urban eco-sanctuary in Wellington, marking a rare success for the pair Bendigo and Waitaa, who were previously thought to be infertile.
The parents arrived at Zealandia two years ago as a non-breeding pair and made a failed nesting attempt in 2024. The presence of Waitaa's nesting and the chick was confirmed in November via a trail camera after staff heard cheeping sounds.
The sex of the chick is not yet known, but staff have noted it is entering an early developmental stage as its legs and beak mature.
Zealandia, located about ten minutes from Wellington city center, is the world's largest urban eco-sanctuary. Typically, breeding takahē are not hosted there due to habitat constraints. Bendigo, Waitaa, and their chick are currently Zealandia's only takahē residents, with a previous chick having hatched in 2018 from a different pair.
The takahē population numbers about 500 individuals globally, making every new chick valuable for this threatened species that breeds just once a year.
