One-Legged Kiwi Dies In Auckland Zoo

Chronicle (Levin), 17 December 1949, Page 4

One-Legged Kiwi Dies In Auckland Zoo

AUCKLAND," Dec. 16.* David, the one-iegged Kiwi, in the Auckland Zoo, has died. There was no previous indication that he was ailing, but he' was found stretched out in his pen one morning recently. A post-m'n-tem was performed, and after a preliminary investigation it Was decide-1 to obtain an analysis of the bird 's mternal organs from fhe Wallaceville Laboratories.- It is- thought David 's death was caused by a c.omplaint .of fairlv long- standing. A small bird, he was about a year old. A'lthough he did nbt show himself to the publie as much as some of the other exhibxts iri the zoo, David was probably one of the most interesting creatures there. He was in fact tlie only Kiwi vu a zoo in any part of the world, and it Iwas hoped that permission would shortly be received to obtain a mate for him. His kirid is on the protected list and he was , allowed to make his hoiao in the zoo only after a special dispensation had been Teceived from the' Department of Internal Affairs. : David 's original home was in the bush at Gladhills in Opotiki. It was there he lost part of his right leg when he stumbled into an opossum trap.