Last kiwi chick of the season hatches

News Release

Last kiwi chick of the season hatches

Rotorua, 24 June 2015: The team at Rainbow Springs' Kiwi Encounter hatchery arrived at work this morning to welcome a fluffy new arrival.

Tomuri, which simply means late in Maori, is the last hatch for the 2014/15 season. A Department of Conservation worker delivered the egg to Kiwi Encounter for incubation and hatching early last month.

The ranger was changing a transmitter on a male kiwi in the Tongariro forest and was surprised to find a kiwi egg. Worried that if left in the wild the male kiwi may not return to the nest to incubate the egg she decided to take it to Kiwi Encounter.

Kiwi Encounter Husbandry Manager Claire Travers says, "We think the chick hatched beforemidnight as it was nice and fluffy and dry by the time we arrived at work. The first health check has been done and the chick is healthy and eating well."

Claire and her team now have a break from hatching kiwi chicks for a few months before the 2015/16 hatching season begins about September.

"It's an extremely rewarding job helping nurture these precious chicks into the world, and we always welcome a short break before the first egg for next season arrives."

The 2014/15 kiwi hatching season has been quite long, beginning on 5 September, with this last hatch stretching the close of the season out to 23 June.

Kiwi Encounter hatched a total of 112 eggs over the season, including 3 captive breeding eggs.

Rainbow Springs' involvement in kiwi conservation began in 1995 with the arrival of an orphaned egg and the hatchery has grown over the years to become the largest kiwi hatching facility in New Zealand, successfully incubating and hatching brown kiwi eggs from around the North Island.

To donate, or sponsor a kiwi, visit http://www.rainbowsprings.co.nz/donate

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