The brown kiwi from the North Island hatched in Pūkaha in May 2011, with a rare genetic trait that resulted in white feathers instead of standard brown.
Manukura was seen as a “huge blessing” by the local Rangitāne or Wairarapa tribe, who saw it as a unifying symbol, according to the wildlife center’s statement.
He even inspired a book by Joy Cowley, one of New Zealand’s most prolific children’s fiction writers, as well as a line of stuffed animals and other memorabilia.
“Over the past ten years, it has enchanted a multitude of people and, in its quiet way, shone the precarious light of the kiwi in nature,” said Kathy Houkamau, operations manager for the Department of Conservation of Wairarapa, who was the manager of the Pūkaha center when Manukura hatched. “He’ll miss you a lot.”
Manukura was taken to specialist vets in early December after her caregivers noticed she was not eating or losing weight, according to the statement.
Veterinarians found an unfertilized egg that the kiwi could not lay. Although her operation to remove her was successful, she needed more surgeries and her health continued to deteriorate in the following weeks.
“Manukura is part of the Pūkaha family and we have always felt so blessed to have Manukura to help us tell the conservation story of Aotearoa,” said Emily Court, general manager of Pūkaha, adding that she was “a of the saddest days ”the wildlife center had experienced. Aotearoa is the Maori name of New Zealand.
Although the white kiwi exists in the wild, it is considered so rare that you are unlikely to see one in its natural habitat.
According to the New Zealand Department of Conservation, approximately 68,000 kiwis remain and 2% of unmanaged kiwis are lost each year. Threats include predators such as wastelands, dogs, cats and ferrets.
Manukura is survived by his younger brother Mapuna, who is part of Pūkaha’s captive breeding program.