The only white kiwi on New Zealand soil has died after a failed surgical operation, much to the chagrin of many.
The white female kiwi, born in May 2011, has been dubbed 'Mankura' (ie, high-ranking). She was born at the Peokaha Wildlife Center, 125 km from the capital Wellington. White, her birth was hailed by local tribes as a sign of good fortune. Joey Cowley, a children's author, wrote a book called Mankura and many cartoons and toys were made on it. That is why people are mourning his death.
For ten years in a row, this white kiwi has been in the news and has been given special attention. In early December, she stopped eating and drinking and began to lose weight rapidly, after which experts became increasingly concerned. The best specialists were called in, the white kiwi was operated on and the operation failed despite a thousand attempts.
According to animal protection experts in New Zealand, there are now only 68,000 Kiwis left in the world, their population declining by 2% each year as they fall prey to dogs, cats, and wild animals. They occur in the environment, which is why large numbers of kiwis are kept in a regular enclosure and taken care of.
