Which group of introduced mammalian predators specifically exacerbates the conservation crisis for the flightless kākāpō?
Answer
Stoats, cats, and rats.
The traits that previously ensured the kākāpō's success in a predator-free environment—flightlessness, large size, and a slow reproductive rate—have become severe liabilities in the modern era. Since the arrival of Polynesian and European settlers, the introduction of terrestrial mammalian predators has devastated the population. Specifically mentioned as threats that exploit the bird's inability to escape by air are stoats, cats, and rats. This situation represents a major evolutionary mismatch, as the ancient bird has no innate defensive mechanisms against these fast, ground-based hunters.
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