Story: Large forest birds

Takahē expedition

Takahē expedition

In 1948, Invercargill doctor Geoffrey Orbell discovered South Island takahē living in a high valley in the Murchison Mountains in Fiordland. Takahē had not been seen since 1898, and they were presumed to be extinct. Orbell (right) returned to the site in January 1949 with Robert Falla (holding a takahē chick) and Jack Sorensen (the photographer). There were around 250 birds in this surviving population.

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How to cite this page:

Gerard Hutching, 'Large forest birds - Takahē', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/10562/takahe-expedition (accessed 19 April 2024)

Story by Gerard Hutching, published 24 Sep 2007, reviewed & revised 17 Feb 2015, updated 1 Aug 2023