Yes, but we
were talking about islands, weren't we, and this case fits the bill. Islands just are easier to clear of invasive species than main land. You didn't specify it had to be only orginal, historical habitat.
And while it was not their original habitat on the main land that was cleared, it still is a wild habitat suitable for Kakapo that had invasive non-native animals successfully removed. The current habitat is comparable to the orginal one, insomuch it even has the specific tree that influences Kakapo reproduction cycles and the latest island has a plant that has been found in ancient kakapo coprolites.
It's not like there were so many kakapos left to begin with, so the smaller area is not as much of an issue, I think. I am ignorant of the original, historical size of Kakapo habitat, so I don't know what areas we are comparing here. But considering there are now three to five islands in the Kakapo-project (if I recall correctly) there does not appear to be lack of space so far. I'm pretty sure repopulation on the main land remains a goal, once population levels on the island are good enough. But then the kakapo is
very difficult about reproducing in the first place.
A bit of both, it appears. According to this
article many bird species have gone extinct in 50-odd years the snakes have been present but efforts have been made to maintain and breed captive populations of those they could still find, for release after the snakes are under control. A number of sources say that ten out twelve endemic forest-birds are extinct, likely due to the snakes. That doesn't leave a whole lot to repopulate afterwards, mind.
Man, the
things you come across when trying to locate a specific fact. I may never look at these snakes the same way.