Kākāpō DNA 'blueprint' to help map other species 4 May, 2021 03:52 AM 5 minutes to read Scientists have used New Zealand's critically-endangered kākāpō to help build a blueprint for genetically mapping every extant vertebrate species on the planet. Photo / Peter Meecham Scientists have used New Zealand's critically-endangered kākāpō to help build a blueprint for genetically mapping every extant vertebrate species on the planet. Photo / Peter Meecham Scientists have used New Zealand's critically-endangered kākāpō to help build a blueprint for genetically mapping every extant vertebrate species on the planet. Just over 200 kākāpō today remain, on two predator-free islands, and helping the bulky, flightless parrot to breed has proven a big challenge for conservationists.