Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre sadly announces the loss of its most famous resident, Manukura. The white kiwi was the first ever pure white kiwi hatched into captivity anywhere in the world. She went on to become a beloved friend and taonga (treasure) to hundreds of thousands of guests who visited the wildlife centre throughout her nine and a half year lifetime. Her popularity with the public spawned a Facebook page, soft toys, children’s books and other memorabilia in her likeness.
Hatched on 1st of May 2011, the North Island Brown Kiwi should have been coloured brown but was instead born with white feathers due to an extremely rare genetic trait carried by both parents. Pūkaha staff at the time had no idea of her colouring until she hatched. Her arrival was hailed as a huge blessing by Māori and local iwi Rangitāne o Wairarapa who saw her as a unifying symbol and a signal to help guide their future relationship with Pūkaha. They consider her a taonga (treasure) and tribal
BBC News
Published
A rare white kiwi that inspired a children s book and toys has died.
Manukura hatched in 2011, but the female North Island Brown Kiwi was born with white feathers.
She became a huge attraction at both Pukaha Mount Bruce, New Zealand s North Island wildlife centre, and online. Replica soft toys were of Manukura were sold around the world.
Manukura passed away peacefully on Sunday with rangers and veterinary staff present, it added. She will be sorely missed.
Manukura was the first of three white kiwi that hatched at the same centre in 2011 and 2012.
Manukura was initially identified as male, but was later found to be female - further adding to her uniqueness.
The world s first extremely rare white kiwi born in captivity has died after vets removed an unfertilised egg which led to her health deteriorating.
The North Island brown kiwi named Manukura passed away at 12.50pm on Sunday after she was born in captivity in 2011 at the Pukaha Mount Bruce Wildlife Centre in New Zealand.
The bird, that inspired children s books and toys, had a rare genetic trait, leucism, which was carried by both parents and caused her plume of pure white feathers.
The North Island brown kiwi named Manukura (pictured in 2011) passed away at 12.50pm on Sunday after she was born in captivity in 2011 at the Pukaha Mount Bruce Wildlife Centre in New Zealand