Before the first human beings arrived, New Zealand was inhabited by birds. There were over 160 different species. With few natural enemies, most of these birds gradually lost their ability to fly. They evolved special ways of living: some were very tall and ate leaves off trees, while others grazed like sheep.

Today, only a few of New Zealand's flightless birds survive. One is the kiwi, which is about the size of a duck. The kiwi is the national bird and emblem. New Zealanders often call themselves 'Kiwis'. The other surviving flightless birds are the takehe, which is bright blue and green, and the kakapo. Unfortunately, there are only about 50 kakapo left.

Most of New Zealand's unique birds and many of its native seals and fish have become extinct in the last five hundred years. By contrast, the tuatara, which is a type of lizard, has survived from the time of Gondwanaland.

“In the English-speaking World”