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- Kagu
Kagu
Gruiformes, Rhynochetidae
Rhynochetos Jubatus
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The Kagu is a near-flightless bird that lives only on the island of New Caledonia. Their numbers have decreased due to attacks by dogs and pigs that people brought to the island.
Total length: 55cm
(Source: Doubutsu Sekai-isan* Red Data Animals Kodansha) (*World Animal Heritage)
The Kagu lives only on the island of New Caledonia in the Pacific Ocean.
The Kagu uses its beak to hunt and eat creatures that live in the ground. They particularly like worms.
The Kagu only lays one egg a year. The parents take great care in raising the hatchling.
Find out more about the Kagu!
A natural predator that wasn't supposed to exist on the island
The Kagu lives only on the island of New Caledonia, located west of the Australian continent. For many years, the Kagu did not have a natural predator on the island. Therefore, it never had to flee to the skies, which is why it evolved into a flightless bird. However, when Captain Cook discovered the island of New Caledonia in the 18th century, many people came to the island from Europe, and the island ceased being paradise for the Kagu. The dogs people had brought with them attacked the Kagu, and the pigs went after their eggs.
Signs of hope for the Kagu's future!
Additionally, the island of New Caledonia is rich in nickel, and many forests were cut down in order to mine it. Left with a severely limited number of safe refuges, the Kagu's numbers almost declined to the point of extinction. However, recent efforts to develop sanctuaries and return the raised Kagu to the wilderness are starting to pay off. Their numbers are slowly recovering and now there are signs of hope for the future of the Kagu.
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