New Zealand: Earth’s Mythical Islands - in pictures

From parrots in the snow and penguins waddling through the forest to dinosaur-like reptiles, a new three-part part series from the BBC’s Natural History Unit, narrated by actor Sam Neill, showcases the island chain’s rich and intriguing wildlife that has resulted from 80 million years of isolation.

• Episode one airs on Tuesday 19 July at 9pm on BBC Two.

Main image: Kea are the only true alpine parrots in the world and thrive as cunning opportunists in the freezing conditions of the Southern Alps. Photograph: Tom Walker/BBC

  • Milford Sound, perhaps New Zealand’s most famous scenic location, was long overlooked by early sailors and explorers, who didn’t realise the narrow entrance concealed an enormous and beautiful interior. It wasn’t discovered by Europeans until 1812. Named the eighth ‘wonder of the world’, its actually one of the wettest places on Earth, with rainfall creating cascades of waterfalls, some reaching a 1,000m in length.
    Milford Sound, perhaps New Zealand’s most famous scenic location.

  • Tuatara hatch after one of the longest incubations of any reptile. Hatchlings clamber out from an underground egg chamber which their mother dug around 16 months ago.
    Tuatara hatch after one of the longest incubations of any reptile. Hatchlings clamber out from an underground egg chamber which their mother dug around 16 months ago.

  • Steep cliffs reaching heights of up to 130m define the coastlines of the Snares Islands, making it an arduous climb for the penguins that breed there.
    Steep cliffs reaching heights of up to 130m define the coastlines of the Snares Islands, making it an arduous climb for the penguins that breed there.

  • Snares penguins have carved out a labyrinth of well-trodden paths through the forest to their nest sites, creating the unique spectacle of streets of penguin commuters in what looks like a dwarf jungle. The gnarled trunks they walk under are unusual too as they belong to trees of the daisy family.
    Snares penguins have carved out a labyrinth of well-trodden paths through the forest to their nest sites, creating the unique spectacle of streets of penguin commuters in what looks like a dwarf jungle. The gnarled trunks they walk under are unusual too as they belong to trees of the daisy family.

  • Glow-worms are the larvae of a species of fly called a fungus gnat. Up close, they are worm-like in appearance and use their lights to attract flying insects into a trap of sticky threads.
    Glow-worms are the larvae of a species of fly called a fungus gnat. Up close, they are worm-like in appearance and use their lights to attract flying insects into a trap of sticky threads.

  • Kea are the only true alpine parrots in the world and thrive as cunning opportunists in the freezing conditions of the Southern Alps. Kea are thought to have developed their wide array of food-finding strategies during the last great ice age, where they learned to adapt using their unusual powers of curiosity.
    Kea are the only true alpine parrots in the world and thrive as cunning opportunists in the freezing conditions of the Southern Alps. Kea are thought to have developed their wide array of food-finding strategies during the last great ice age, where they learned to adapt using their unusual powers of curiosity.

  • Nimble and agile climbers, stoats hunt by following their nose at any time, day or night, requiring nearly a quarter of their body weight in prey on a daily basis. Stoats were introduced to New Zealand in 1883, many coming from Lincolnshire in the UK.
    Nimble and agile climbers, stoats hunt by following their nose at any time, day or night, requiring nearly a quarter of their body weight in prey on a daily basis. Stoats were introduced to New Zealand in 1883, many coming from Lincolnshire in the UK.

  • A kiwi lays an enormous egg which takes up about 20% of the mother’s body weight- a human baby takes up only 5% in comparison. The unique bird also has nostrils at the tip of its bill, enabling it to sniff out invertebrate prey underground. Around the same size and shape as a stout chicken, a kiwi is in fact related to the ostrich.
    Uniquely in the bird world a kiwi has nostrils at the tip of its bill, enabling it to sniff out invertebrate prey underground. Around the same size and shape as a stout chicken, a kiwi is in fact related to the ostrich.

  • The sole surviving member of an ancient lineage of reptiles which flourished on Earth during the Jurassic period, tuatara are uniquely specialised to the temperate climate of New Zealand.
    The sole surviving member of an ancient lineage of reptiles which flourished on Earth during the Jurassic period, tuatara are uniquely specialised to the temperate climate of New Zealand.

  • Named after its constant fizzing of carbon dioxide bubbles reminiscent of champagne, ‘Champagne pool’ is one of New Zealand’s most well-known geothermal features. Despite it being 900 years old, it’s relatively young for a hot spring and gets its distinctive orange colour from toxic mineral sulphides.
    Named after its constant fizzing of carbon dioxide bubbles reminiscent of champagne, ‘Champagne pool’ is one of New Zealand’s most well-known geothermal features. Despite it being 900 years old, it’s relatively young for a hot spring and gets its distinctive orange colour from toxic mineral sulphides.

  • Fantails are some of New Zealand’s smallest and most agile birds, surviving in some of the most toxic and corrosive environments in New Zealand.
    Fantails are some of New Zealand’s smallest and most agile birds, surviving in some of the most toxic and corrosive environments in New Zealand.

  • New Zealand’s sea lions are one of the rarest and most threatened sea lions in the world. In 1993, a single female nicknamed ‘Mum’ recolonised the mainland after being absent there for the last 100 years. Now most of the mainland population are her direct descendants.
    New Zealand’s sea lions are one of the rarest and most threatened sea lions in the world. In 1993, a single female nicknamed ‘Mum’ recolonised the mainland after being absent there for the last 100 years. Now most of the mainland population are her direct descendants.

  • Sirocco is a kakapo, a large nocturnal parrot, who has his very own Facebook page with more than 170,000 likes.
    Sirocco is a kakapo, a large nocturnal parrot, who has his very own Facebook page with more than 170,000 likes.

  • This species of tusked weta can grow up to 3.6cm in length. In a land over-run with land-based predators, its ingenious strategy to escape danger has proved very useful. It jumps into water and can hold its breath for more than five minutes - enough time for predators to give up and move on.
    This species of tusked weta can grow up to 3.6cm in length. In a land over-run with land-based predators, its ingenious strategy to escape danger has proved very useful. It jumps into water and can hold its breath for more than five minutes - enough time for predators to give up and move on.

  • One of the highest-living buttercups in the world, this species is a scree-slope specialist which can only live at altitudes upwards of 1,500m. Specific to a few regions of the South Island, they bloom in the summer months.
    One of the highest-living buttercups in the world, this species is a scree-slope specialist which can only live at altitudes upwards of 1,500m. Specific to a few regions of the South Island, they bloom in the summer months.

  • Carnivorous and capable of sniffing out prey in their mossy forest homes, these snails feed mainly on earthworms.
    Carnivorous and capable of sniffing out prey in their mossy forest homes, these snails feed mainly on earthworms.

  • Giant weta are some of the heaviest insects in the world and a prehistoric speciality of New Zealand. They can weigh as much as a small bird.
    Giant weta are some of the heaviest insects in the world and a prehistoric speciality of New Zealand. They can weigh as much as a small bird.

  • Pukeko chicks are raised in multi-parent families. Incubation of eggs is predominantly by the males, but all parents contribute to the care of young chicks. This can mean they hatch in a nest with up to 18 other siblings.
    Pukeko chicks are raised in multi-parent families. Incubation of eggs is predominantly by the males, but all parents contribute to the care of young chicks. This can mean they hatch in a nest with up to 18 other siblings.

  • New Zealand’s first sheep were set ashore by Captain Cook in 1773. At their peak in 1982, there were 22 sheep for every person in New Zealand. Nowadays, the numbers have fallen by two thirds and are now estimated at just over seven sheep per person.
    New Zealand’s first sheep were set ashore by Captain Cook in 1773. At their peak in 1982, there were 22 sheep for every person in New Zealand. Nowadays, the numbers have fallen by two thirds and are now estimated at just over seven sheep per person.
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