Brilliant green plumage, a vivid red crown, and flashes of blue along its wings make the Norfolk Island Parakeet (Cyanoramphus cookii) a true jewel of the South Pacific. Endemic to Norfolk Island, this rare bird once thrived in the lush forests of the island. Over time, habitat loss and introduced predators brought it to the brink of extinction, with fewer than 50 individuals surviving by the late 1970s.

Thanks to determined conservation efforts, including predator control, nest box programs, and habitat restoration, the population has slowly rebounded. Today, the Norfolk Island Parakeet remains endangered, but its survival is a testament to what committed protection and community action can achieve.

Though not native to Tobago, its journey mirrors the same principles that guide our own island’s conservation work. From the protection of Tobago’s Main Ridge Forest Reserve to the safeguarding of our endemic bird species, both islands share a common mission to preserve natural treasures for generations to come.