Monday, 19 March 2018 07:19
Unique kiwi
Kindara as a chick.
Kindara, the uniquely ginger coloured kiwi chick at his stoat-proof weight was released back into the wild.
The ginger Kiwi has unique colouring and this tickled the fancy of red head Emma Bean who works at the Rainbow Springs Kiwi Encounter where Kindara’s egg was incubated and hatched. Emma made the trip to Ohakune for Kindara’s release to the wild on the Karioi Rahui on the southern side of Mt Ruapehu.
Also at the release were students from Tauhara College, Kindara’s sponsors. They watched Kindara’s journey as he was raised at Rainbow Springs, and gained naming rights through the National Kiwi Trust. They visited Kindara in Rotorua after he hatched, and were there to welcome him to crèche at the Wairakei Golf + Sanctuary, Taupo in November. Two students helped the DOC Kiwi team catch Kindara at Wairakei, and a group went to the forest for Kindara’s release.
Tauhara student Tegan Clark said, “Through Kindara’s sponsorship, the students know more about the kiwi and their plight, and the efforts going towards saving kiwi.”Kindara is one of an estimated 70,000 kiwi left in New Zealand. He’s one of the lucky ones with a very good chance of survival thanks to a great collaborative effort.
“This is what saving kiwi is all about – inspiring future generations to care for our native species,” said Kiwis for Kiwi executive director Michelle Impey.
To learn about how to help save kiwi, or to make a secure on line donation, visit Kiwis for Kiwi.