BBC
A male kakapo's vigorous mating attempt leaves zoologist Mark Carwardine bloodied, prompting Stephen Fry to declare the creation of a hybrid species named Homo-Kakapens.
AI-assisted summary of Shagged by a rare parrot | Last Chance To See - BBC — original source. Check the original for full context.
Source published:
Key ideas
- Stephen Fry and zoologist Mark Carwardine encounter Sirocco, a rare male kakapo in New Zealand, noting his unique 'old-fashioned' appearance resembling a Victorian gentleman. (0:04)
- During filming, Sirocco mounts Mark Carwardine's shoulders and neck in a vigorous mating attempt, prompting uncontrollable laughter from Stephen Fry. (0:43)
- The kakapo's sharp claws leave Carwardine with bloody scratches and puncture wounds across the back of his neck. (0:43)
- Stephen Fry jokingly coins the hybrid species name 'Homo-Kakapens' and asks Carwardine to name any resulting chick after him. (0:43)
Detailed notes
## Background Published by the BBC on YouTube on September 29, 2009, this clip is from Series 1, Episode 5 of the documentary series 'Last Chance To See'. It follows Stephen Fry and zoologist Mark Carwardine across New Zealand as they search for the critically endangered, flightless kakapo parrot.
## TL;DR While observing a rare male kakapo named Sirocco in the New Zealand bush, Stephen Fry and Mark Carwardine admire the bird's unique plumage and evolutionary camouflage. The encounter takes a sudden, shocking turn when Sirocco climbs onto Carwardine's shoulders and aggressively attempts to mate with the back of his head. While Fry collapses into helpless fits of laughter over the surreal spectacle, Carwardine endures painful claw scratches across his neck. Afterwards, Fry inspects the bloody damage and hilariously dubs Carwardine's forced contribution to conservation as the dawn of a new hybrid species: 'Homo-Kakapens.'
## Atmosphere & style The clip begins with the dignified, measured tone of a classic natural-history documentary before detonating into chaotic, unfiltered slapstick. Stephen Fry's articulate, theatrical wit quickly crumbles into breathless, wheezing laughter, providing an uproarious contrast to Mark Carwardine's stoic, wincing discomfort. The viewing experience feels delightfully surreal and spontaneous, turning an earnest wildlife mission into one of the most famous, unintentional moments of comic relief in modern broadcasting.
## Bulletin - [00:04](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T1vfsHYiKY&t=4s) Stephen Fry and zoologist Mark Carwardine encounter Sirocco, a rare male kakapo in New Zealand, noting his unique 'old-fashioned' appearance resembling a Victorian gentleman. - [00:43](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T1vfsHYiKY&t=43s) During filming, Sirocco mounts Mark Carwardine's shoulders and neck in a vigorous mating attempt, prompting uncontrollable laughter from Stephen Fry. - [00:43](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T1vfsHYiKY&t=43s) The kakapo's sharp claws leave Carwardine with bloody scratches and puncture wounds across the back of his neck. - [00:43](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T1vfsHYiKY&t=43s) Stephen Fry jokingly coins the hybrid species name 'Homo-Kakapens' and asks Carwardine to name any resulting chick after him.
## Key takeaways - [00:04](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T1vfsHYiKY&t=4s) Stephen Fry and Mark Carwardine travel to New Zealand to document the kakapo, an endangered, heavy, and flightless parrot. - [00:04](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T1vfsHYiKY&t=4s) Fry describes Sirocco's facial plumage as looking remarkably old-fashioned, akin to the mutton-chop sideburns of a Victorian gentleman. - [00:04](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T1vfsHYiKY&t=4s) Carwardine highlights the kakapo's mottled green plumage, which provides excellent camouflage against the mossy forest floor. - [00:43](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T1vfsHYiKY&t=43s) Sirocco climbs directly onto zoologist Mark Carwardine's shoulders, planting his feet firmly around his neck. - [00:43](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T1vfsHYiKY&t=43s) The kakapo initiates a vigorous mating display, rhythmically flapping his wings and grinding against the back of Carwardine's head. - [00:43](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T1vfsHYiKY&t=43s) Stephen Fry finds the situation hilarious, repeatedly shouting that Carwardine is being shagged by a rare parrot. - [00:43](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T1vfsHYiKY&t=43s) Sirocco's sharp talons cause physical injury, leaving Carwardine with noticeable bleeding scratches and punctures on his neck. - [00:43](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T1vfsHYiKY&t=43s) Fry playfully insists that if a chick results from the encounter, Carwardine must name it Stephen. - [00:43](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T1vfsHYiKY&t=43s) Fry humorously declares the event a conservation breakthrough, proposing the name 'Homo-Kakapens' for the theoretical hybrid species. - [00:43](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T1vfsHYiKY&t=43s) When Carwardine offers Fry the chance to take a turn with the bird, Fry promptly declines.
## Detailed walkthrough ### [00:04](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T1vfsHYiKY&t=4s) Meeting Sirocco the Kakapo
Stephen Fry and zoologist Mark Carwardine encounter Sirocco, a rare male kakapo wandering through the lush forest undergrowth in New Zealand. Watching the heavy, flightless bird move among the foliage, Fry observes his curious, dignified appearance, remarking, “It ought to be impossible to describe a creature as looking old fashioned, but that's exactly how Sirocco looks.” He likens the parrot's distinctive feathered plumage and facial discs to the mutton-chop sideburns and stern visage of a Victorian gentleman.
Carwardine notes how effectively the bird blends into the mossy landscape, admiring how incredible his mottled green coloration is. Fry jokingly concedes, “So evolution hasn't entirely rendered him useless.” However, as Sirocco waddles directly toward them and eyes the camera lens, Fry quips that like a typical male, the parrot is clearly fixated on only one thing.
[00:43](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T1vfsHYiKY&t=43s) An Unexpected Mating Attempt and "Homo-Kakapens"
Sirocco suddenly clambers up behind Carwardine, planting his feet firmly onto the zoologist's shoulders and neck. Clinging tightly with razor-sharp claws, the kakapo begins vigorously flapping his wings and rhythmically grinding against the back of Carwardine's head. As Carwardine winces and asks whether the bird is genuinely attempting a mating display, Stephen Fry erupts into helpless laughter, gleefully shouting, “You are being shagged!” While Carwardine groans in discomfort from the talons digging into his skin, Fry can barely contain his delight, calling out, “Look, he's so happy! I'm sorry but it's one of the funniest things I've ever seen. You are being shagged by a rare parrot.”
Once the passionate encounter finally concludes, Carwardine is left visibly battered and sore. Fry inspects the damage, noting multiple scratches and patches of fresh blood dotted across the back of Carwardine's neck, suggesting they ought to patch him up. Unwilling to let the moment pass without further teasing, Fry insists that Carwardine name the resulting chick after him: “I want you to call the chick—when you have the chick, I want you to call it Stephen for me.”
Addressing the camera in full mock-documentary grandeur, Fry proclaims that viewers have just witnessed a historic milestone in natural history broadcasting: “You've seen Mark Carwardine who has devoted his life to conserving animals, actually taking an active part in the conservation and breeding of a whole new generation of a whole new species. Homo-Kakapens.” When Carwardine dryly asks, “Do you want to have a go?”, Fry immediately declines: “I think I'll pass actually.”
- **Injuries sustained:** Multiple puncture wounds and bloody scratches on the back of Mark Carwardine's neck from Sirocco's sharp talons. - **Stephen Fry's proposed hybrid name:** *Homo-Kakapens*.
## Mentioned Stephen Fry, Mark Carwardine, Sirocco, Last Chance To See, BBC, New Zealand
## Video description Subscribe and 🔔 to the BBC 👉 https://bit.ly/BBCYouTubeSub Watch the BBC first on iPlayer 👉 https://bbc.in/iPlayer-Home Stephen Fry and zoologist Mark Carwardine head to the ends of the earth in search of animals on the edge of extinction.
In New Zealand the travellers make their way through one of the most dramatic landscapes in the world. They are on a journey to find the last remaining kakapo, a fat, flightless parrot which, when threatened with attack, adopts a strategy of standing very still indeed.
Last Chance To See | Series 1 Episode 5 | BBC
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[Source](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T1vfsHYiKY)