The Talève takahé (Porphyrio hochstetteri) or takahé, is a bird species endemic to New Zealand's South Island. A bird with wings but unable to fly. Present for millennia, this bird was considered extinct during the 20th century due to the arrival of European settlers and the introduction of predators such as rats, cats and ferrets. However, the history of the takahé took a turning point with its rediscovery in 1948, during an expedition led by Geoffrey Orbell. Gradually, takahés have been reintroduced up to the present day, reaching a nationwide population of 500. Recently, nine pairs of takahés were reintroduced in an area of great significance: the region around Lake Wakatipu, a valley that once bore the nickname "the land of the land birds". It's a deserved appellation, since takahés hadn't set foot on these lands for a century.