Modern Dinosaurs

The Kiwi is a bird that has thrown out the rulebook of bird biology. It doesn’t fly, lives in the dark, and resembles a mammal more than anything bird-like. Since the introduction of rodents, this national symbol has faced an existential threat. But how did a flightless bird find itself on islands in the middle of the ocean? From the rainforests of Australia to ancient caves in one of New Zealand’s wildest places, we discover how the secret to the kiwi’s success may have become its gravest threat.

Most parrots are colourful and fly in massive flocks - New Zealand’s kakapo breaks all the rules. Kakapo are not only the world’s largest parrots, they’re the only nocturnal species. These birds can’t fly; to reach their food in the treetops, they climb their way up using their beaks. They’ve been called the strangest parrot in the world. We’ll venture to one of its last refuges – the windswept bush of Codfish island. With only 154 kakapo left, a hardy team of researchers is attempting to preserve this dying lineage in a race against the clock.

In Milford Sound – the “Eighth Wonder of the World” - survey teams discover some of the ocean’s most primitive sharks. These cold waters hold an unusual secret that tricks deep sea creatures into living near the surface. We’ll also discover ancient whale bones deep in mountain valleys, and journey to an earthquake-rattled region where the sea floor has literally uplifted.