We have some VERY exciting news her in Australia. The Victoria earless dragon (Tympanocryptis pinguicolla) is a small , very cute, lizard. Like the SI kokako, the last confirmed sighting was in 1967. The habitat in which it lived was consumed by urban sprawl, overgrazing and grain farming. Also being a small ground dwelling lizard, the species was vulnerable to introduced predators like cats, rats and foxes. Add in several intense droughts and floods it was very, very doubtful if it still survived and was considered by many experts to be extinct. But 56 years later...WE FOUND IT !!! A very small population of 16 individuals was located during a wildlife survey, in an area earmarked for development! An intense captive breeding program has begun, plus funding to find more individuals/ populations plus research into their habitat etc etc etc. I personally knew a few naturalists that have dedicated a lot of time trying to rediscover this species, with no success. And sadly a few old timers who have passed on , not knowing this reptile was still extant. My point is, if a lizard found on the outskirts of a city of 5 million people remained undetected for 56 years ( despite many searches) then the chances of a secretive bird surviving in a much larger area of wilderness is still a possiblity! It would be terrific news if its existence was confirmed, I'm sure this channel would cover the facts thoroughly 🎉

Fascinating! It would be nice to think there are still some alive but the numbers would have to be very low

Great, there aren't many videos that talk about the kokako from the south island, thank you very much

Cool sounds and look

It’d be really tragic if we don’t find some isolated population or a few individuals holding out. I have hope that these guys are still out there, even if extinct, it’s fortunate that we know so much about them.

Kind of depressing how many New Zealand birds are just.. gone.

Thank you, Henry ❤

Never stop making these

Kōkako have such a beautiful song, would be real nice to hear that through out the bush again. Perhaps one day!!

6:25 sounds too much like "The dog ate my homework"

_~ I love the Mesozoic ~_

huh neat bird

I hope these birds are confirmed alive. Maybe someday this can be updated then with a definitove bird call.

Well, let's hope the best then for these; and hopefully, their genetic data pool hasn't got to small by now, which luckily doesn't normally happen to reptiles as fast as with mammals. Thank you very much for this new informative video!

Reveal yourselves South Island Kōkako!

Let’s hold on to the hope of discovery :)

The video description is wrong

So is this bird extinct or not? 😢

B I r d

Another extinct birdie 😑😑😑 unfair!!!

Fantastic Video as Always 👏👏👏👏👏 ❤❤❤❤ 💖💖💖💖