If you haven't yet watched 'Last Chance to See' there is still time to catch the entire series on BBC iPlayer though particular attention should really be paid to episode 5 featuring the all-star kakapo.
It is truly worth an hour of your time and not just for the superb opening sequence flying over Fiordland or the visit to Wellington to encounter a 'dinosaur' (tuatara to you and me), or even the interview with Peter Jackson about his childhood memories of the dreaded weta. As the quest to find the kakapo (the fat, flightless bird) builds throughout the programme, the culmination is not just a suprisingly touching and well-observed glimpse into a superb conservation effort, it also produces a fantastic moment of inter-species bonding as Sirocco the kakapo rather takes a shine to Mark Cawardine and mounts his head to embark on a mating ritual. Naturally Stephen Fry is on hand to offer some eloquent observations and it really is 'must-see' TV for the wildlife fan.
Mating for the few kakapos left in existance is no easy task requiring 'booming' (the kakapos loud low-frequency mating call) for an average of 8 hours a night, for 3-4 months of the year and losing half their body weight in the process. Sirocco obviously felt the opportunity with Mark was worth taking.
If this ‘Last Chance to See’ episode in New Zealand not only made you laugh but also captured your heart then I urge you to travel there and witness for yourself this incredibly beautiful country that is home to truly unique wildlife…
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