New Zealand's kākāpō (a critically endangered, nocturnal, and flightless parrot — the world's heaviest) has reached a population of 325, its highest level in roughly 75 years, after a record-breaking breeding season produced 90 chicks. The surge was triggered by an unusually abundant fruiting of native rimu trees, which the birds rely on as a breeding cue and only experience every two to four years; the last such season was four years ago. Conservation officials say the milestone is a significant achievement for a recovery programme launched in 1995 with just 51 birds, and are already preparing for a potential next breeding season in 2028.