Black Petrel are endemic to New Zealand and currently only breed on Little Barrier and Great Barrier Islands. They suffered a large population decline in the 1970's, with 100% of the chicks (as well as several adults) on Little Barrier Island being killed by introduced rats and cats in 1974 and 1975. Since the eradication of the non-native predators in 1980, the colony is slowly recovering and the total population is now about 3000-4000 birds.
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