Rare white Kiwi chick hatches at NZ wildlife park

WELLINGTON, New Zealand – A rare white kiwi chick hatched at a New Zealand wildlife reserve will have a protected early life — unlike wild kiwis that face nonnative predators that are slowly wiping them out, an official said Thursday.

The chick, named Manukura or "Chiefly One" by local Maori, was born at Pukaha Mount Bruce National Wildlife Center on May 1, weighing about 8.8 ounces (250 grams), Department of Conservation area manager Chris Lester said.

Lester said white kiwis are spotted in the wild about every three or four years, but the last one in captivity was released in 1915. The small, flightless birds are usually brown.

source and full paper here

Although not a true albino, this is the first time a white Kiwi has been born in captivity since 1915.
The unusual chick is not an albino, but the rare offspring of kiwi that were transferred the center, called Pukaha Mount Bruce, from Hauturu/Little Barrier Island last year.

Starred and flagged from me. Great to have some "other" news on the forum.

It looks super cute, would just like to huggles it to death!

Kiwigger Chick.

Wasn't there a prophecy about the white beast being born and a sign of the end times.Behold the antichrist!
Or was that about a buffalo?

Originally posted by 12voltz
Wasn't there a prophecy about the white beast being born and a sign of the end times.Behold the antichrist!
Or was that about a buffalo?

What is interesting is that there's a legend about this:

Pukaha board member, Jason Kerehi, said tribal elders saw the white chick as a "tohu" or "sign" of new beginnings. "Every now and then something extraordinary comes along to remind you of how special life is."

aww soo cute , Finally we get some cute stuff on ATS not just doom doooom all the time S&F from me

those are such cool birds, ive never seen a white one though