Friday, December 23, 2011

Second rare white kiwi hatches in New Zealand

Second rare white kiwi hatches in New Zealand

A second singular white kiwi has hatched during New Zealand's national wildlife centre, conservation officials announced Friday, months after a world's initial hatched in captivity.

The chicky is believed to have a same relatives as Manukura, that arrived in May, and it has given a carers an additional provide in a gratifying period.

"We were gob-smacked really," pronounced Kathy Houkamau, a manager during a Pukaha refuge north of Wellington.

"To have a second white chick is a pleasant gift, generally during this time of year. We suspicion Christmas had come early in May when Manukura arrived, though now it?s come twice."

A tiny series of North Island brownish-red kiwi lift a recessive white gene that both a masculine and womanlike contingency have to furnish a white chick.

Department of Conservation serf tact ranger Darren Page pronounced it was conspicuous dual birds with a singular white gene had interconnected adult in a 940-hectare (2,323 acre) Pukaha timberland to furnish dual white chicks over dual seasons.

"Both white birds have a same father, who we have identified by his transmitter. We can?t brand a mom though assume she is a same since of a monument of a white gene," Page said.

The new chicky has been named Mauriora, definition "sustained life" in a inland Maori language, while a progressing white kiwi was named Manukura definition "of customarily status".

The flightless kiwi is a inhabitant pitch of New Zealand.

However, it is threatened by predators including rats, cats, dogs, ferrets and possums, and it is estimated there are fewer than 70,000 left with several sub-species listed as critically endangered.


News referensi http://news.yahoo.com/second-rare-white-kiwi-hatches-zealand-215402258.html