‘Stroppy’ Kiwi on the mend
A COUNTRY kiwi has found itself having a city break after a day walk on Stewart Island went wrong.
The large Stewart Island kiwi is recovering at Dunedin’s Wildlife Hospital after she was found tangled in a fence on the island on October 8.
Wildlife Hospital veterinary nurse Emily Brewer said the female kiwi was discovered with nothing broken, but some deep soft tissue injuries.
‘‘She was able to walk but it would be painful.’’
The bird was flown to the mainland and treated with pain relief, antibiotics and plenty of fluid. Her wounds were also cleaned and bandaged.
The bird was responding well to treatment, but Miss Brewer said it was hard to say when she would be fully recovered.
Wildlife Hospital Trust chairman Steve Walker said the kiwi was one of the biggest to be brought into the hospital and was ‘‘quite stroppy’’.
Miss Brewer said in terms of size, Stewart Island kiwis tended to be larger than their mainland counterparts and, in general, females were typically bigger than males.
Temperament or personality depended on the kiwi.
‘‘You can get ones that are sweet and soft, or feisty like this big one.’’
She believed this was the first kiwi they had had from Stewart Island, and the bird had now been joined by a 6weekold kiwi, brought to the hospital because it was underweight.
While most kiwi were nocturnal some, like the Stewart Islander, developed the tendency to day walk.
She reminded people on Stewart Island to be vigilant for day walker kiwis, especially around dawn and dusk.
There was also kiwi avoidance training available on the island for dogs.
‘‘It’s all about keeping these guys safe.’’