Two members of Department of Conservation kakapo recovery programme have been hosted by natural historian and conservationist Sir David Attenborough at his London home. The visit came after Ms Vercoe wrote to tell him a kakapo chick was to be named after him. Only 51 kakapo remained, most on Stewart Island, when the recovery programme was established in 1977. Ms Vercoe said Sir David, who is 90, "blew her away". During their holiday, she and Dr Digby also gave a public talk at Cambridge University focusing on new technologies used in the kakapo programme, such as smart feeding stations which allow nominated birds to feed and lock others out.

Source: Otago Daily Times August 11, 2016 18:45 UTC