It is a spectacular find that New -Zeeland’s Nature Conservation Authority (DOC) has now confirmed: For the first time in half a century, a Kiwi Pukupuku, also known as Zwergkiwi, is spotted on the mainland of Zeeland.
The small, escape -free bird was considered extinct there – now a female copy was discovered in the remote Adams Wilderness area on the west coast of the South Island.
A hunter had first observed the animal and informed the authorities. The DOC then sent the experienced Ranger Iain Graham and his specially trained detection Dog Brew to detect the rare Kiwi type. “I heard Ki -Wirufe (…) and immediately knew that they did not sound like other kiwis,” Graham described his first impressions. It was only after a few days of intensive searching on rough terrain to find the bird at night. He took some feathers from the animal to scientifically confirm the kind.
Scientifically confirmed: It is a Kiwi Pukupuku
The DNA analysis confirmed the suspicion: it is actually an apteryx owenii, the smallest and rarest of all five types of kiwi. Until now, it has been assumed that these birds were eradicated on the most important islands of New Zealand and only survived on electricity, predator -free islands or in protected reserves. The last knowledge of a Kiwi Pukupuku on the mainland dates from 1978.
The find is a small sensation for the Bird Protection Organization Kiwi Recovery Group. Their director Emily King spoke about a “miracle”. Despite decades of targeted search campaigns, no copy has appeared so far.
The Kiwi: Nerd and National Animal
Kiwis are unique worldwide. You can’t fly, see badly, sniff with clogged noses and radiate a musty scent. Nevertheless, or perhaps precisely because of this – they are national birds and emotional identification figures of the New Zealanders, who proudly call themselves “kiwis”. The now discovered Kiwi Pukupuku is the smallest variant and hardly bigger than a chicken.
The surprising find gives nature conservationists hope that other animals could have survived in remote regions. The DOC has announced that the region will be followed more accurately in the future and further expand the protection of the species.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
