shore plovers used to be widespread around NZ coastlines but introduced predators reduced them to a relict population on the Chatham Islands to the east. A reintroduction programme is attempting to get them established on Mana Island off Wellington. In June 2011 almost forty shore plovers left Mana Island and appeared on the mainland coast at Plimmerton. This is over 20% of the total world population.
it might well be. Takahe would be the other contender, and Okarito kiwi is also well down in total population figures. [Also if captive animals are included then the kakapo and Chatham Island taiko probably take the prize, because I saw one of each earlier this year]
Certainly the shore plover holds my record for the largest percentage of the total world population seen at one time though!
I had the horrible realisation recently that unless any of the AWOL wild animals are rediscovered I've seen all the now-surviving Northern White Rhinos between visits to SDWAP in 1998 and Dvur Kralove in 2003.
It's also quite likely I saw all of the last group of Cape Verde Kites (Milvus (milvus) fasciicauda) when they were at the National Bird of Prey Centre, Newent. Really must find and scan my shots from that day.
