Back last year we reported on the birth of Manukura, the world's first white kiwi hatched in captivity. Well, it's happened again, with a second all white kiwi chick hatching just before Christmas!
The happy event once more happened at Pukaha Mt Bruce's national Wildlife Centre and on the photographic evidence I have to say that new arrival may be even cutier than Manakura. Once again, the perfect little chick has been named by local Maori iwi Rangitane o Wairarapa, Mauriora, meaning 'sustained life'
“We were gob-smacked really,” said centre manager Kathy Houkamau. “While every kiwi is precious, to have a second white chick is a delightful gift, especially at this time of year. We thought Christmas had come early in May when Manukura arrived but now it’s come twice.”
Apparently, a small number of North Island brown kiwi carry a white gene, but a white chick only results if both male and female each carry the gene. In an area the size of Pukaha forest (940 hectares), having two white chicks born is nothing short of extraordinary. It is known that both chicks have the same father and it is suspected, the same mother also - so could more white kiwis be still to come?! Watch this space...
For those keen to catch sight of a white kiwi, Manakura the older sibling, is in permanent residence at the Kiwi House at Pukaha Mt Bruce - the perfect detour for those en route to Wellington.
It's good to see that New Zealand's most iconic species is fully embracing the brilliant 100% Pure marketing strategy and thereby helping to boost the profile of kiwi recovery programmes and the like throughout NZ. Nice!
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