大象传媒

The little-known island of New Caledonia is a small sliver of Australia that was cast adrift over 60 million years ago. It鈥檚 home to a creature that seems to have evolved quite strangely. It has wings, but it can鈥檛 fly. It is, the kagu. Kagu families stick together, with young from previous years helping to declare the family territory. All intruders are chased away. In the breeding season, when males rekindle the flame with their life-long partners. It鈥檚 hard to know what the kagu is related to: a heron, a rail, or maybe a pigeon. Its closest relative may actually be the sunbittern of South America, 11,000 kilometres to the east. She may not seem too impressed, but then kagus always keep their feet very firmly on the ground. Their wings are too weak to get them airborne, but why fly when all the food you need is on the ground? And with no large predators stalking this island, there鈥檚 not much cause to take flight. But this life is not without its worries: a newly hatched chick hides among the leaves. As with babies the world over, getting food into mouth can be quite a challenge. Perhaps slimy worms just don鈥檛 appeal. The chick鈥檚 camouflage helps to hide it from aerial predators like the New Caledonian crow. Fortunately dad鈥檚 wings still have a use: to help him look big and intimidating.