A takahē chick hatched unexpectedly at Zealandia sanctuary, defying infertility beliefs in its parents.

A takahē chick has hatched at Zealandia sanctuary in Wellington, surprising conservationists who believed the parents, Bendigo and Waitaa, were infertile. The chick, whose sex is unknown, was discovered in late December via trail-cam footage after staff heard it cheeping. Born in November, the chick is thriving despite wet weather and lacks waterproof feathers. The unexpected success follows a pattern seen in other non-breeding pairs, with experts noting new partners sometimes boost reproduction. The chick will be banded and vaccinated in March before joining the Department of Conservation’s recovery program. The event is significant given the species’ population is estimated at around 500.