A rare kiwi pukupuku (little spotted kiwi), a species long believed to exist only on offshore islands and predator-free sanctuaries, has been discovered in the wild on mainland New Zealand. This marks the first confirmed sighting of the smallest kiwi species on the main islands in 50 years, New Zealand’s Department of Conservation (DOC) announced.
The momentous discovery occurred when a DOC-contracted hunter spotted the elusive bird in a remote area of the South Island’s West Coast. Tiny feathers were collected from the bird and subsequently confirmed its identity as a kiwi pukupuku.
Emily King, leader of the Kiwi Recovery Group, described the find as “almost miraculous.” She stated, “The last known sighting of a kiwi pukupuku on the mainland was in 1978. Despite years of targeted searching, we hadn’t found them-until now.” The finding offers new hope for the broader conservation efforts of New Zealand’s iconic national bird.
–Input WAM
