Captive kiwi heads south to Christchurch

Captive kiwi heads south to Christchurch

Rotorua, 24 January 2013 – The captive kiwi breeding programme plays an integral role in the preservation of the native species and one of Rainbow Springs' favourite captive kiwis Forest is about to head south to Christchurch's Orana Wildlife Park.

Claire Travers, Kiwi Encounter Kiwi Husbandry Manager says, "Captive breeding is very important as an ‘insurance policy’ for wild birds and the captive population is managed by a national co-ordinator who matches up suitable kiwi for breeding around the country.

"It's also Forest's fifth birthday today so it's a rather exciting week for her. She's just had a health check and has been placed in quarantine in preparation for the move to Christchurch in a few weeks."

Forest hatched at Rainbow Springs in the outside runs amongst native trees instead of in the park's incubation area, hence the name Forest, and has been on display at the park for more than 4 years. She can be seen in the Rainbow Springs Night Aviary, where she's notoriously inquisitive and is often seen out and about.

"Forest is a real favourite with both staff and park visitors because of her placid nature and huge appetite. She's infamous for scoffing her food – which she has to have limited amounts of so she doesn’t get out of shape!" Claire says.

Forest was the twelfth chick to hatch from the captive breeding pair, Tahi and Bracken, who are originally from the Bay of Plenty region.
Rainbow Spring's hatch and release programme is also in full swing for the season recently hatching its 81st egg and with lots more in incubation.
To find out more about sponsoring a kiwi or making a donation visit www.rainbowsprings.co.nz Every Kiwi Encounter Tour booked at Rainbow Springs is donated to the National Kiwi Trust.

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.

ENDS

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