In a surprising encounter, two of New Zealand’s rare and cherished species—the large, flightless Takahē and the ancient Tuatara reptile—were caught in a brawl on the forest floor.
Nick Fisenzidis, a ranger with the Pest-Free Tiritiri Matangi Island Conservation Agency near Auckland, witnessed the incident and quickly took out his phone to record it.
“I noticed they were giving each other a little nip,” Fisenzidis commented. “The Takahē definitely chased after the Tuatara’s tail and had a few scuffles.”
The video portrays a hawk pursuing the Tuatara, but the dynamics shifted when the reptile turned to face the bird.
“I followed them down the hill, and the Tuatara bit at least a few times, so the Takahē retreated back into the forest,” Fisenzidis added.
The once-thought extinct Takahē was declared so in 1898, following the devastation of its population due to animals brought by European settlers. Rediscovered in 1948, the current population stands at about 500 and is increasing by roughly 8% each year.
The Tuatara, often dubbed “living fossils,” is the last of an ancient reptilian lineage that roamed the earth alongside dinosaurs 225 million years ago.
They can live beyond 100, even reaching 200 years, making them among the longest-living species. Currently, they are classified as “at risk” and primarily inhabit a few predator-free offshore islands.
The Takahē and Tuatara only exist in two places: Tiritiri Matangi and Zealandia, the urban sanctuary in Wellington.
Fisenzidis remarked that the footage provides a “nice snapshot” of the interactions between these species in historic times.
“It also highlights what can be accomplished if we really come together to restore the wildlife in our own backyards,” he suggested.
