Rare white kiwi survives surgery

                 Manukura, the little white kiwi, is not an albino but a rare colour morph

The world's only known white kiwi has survived surgery to remove stones from her gizzard.

Over a week ago, rangers noted that Manukura, the six month-year-old chick, was off her food. X-rays revealed that two large stones were obstructing the chick's guts.

In two separate operations, vets at Wellington Hospital in New Zealand used lasers to successfully break apart the rocks.

Pukaha Mount Bruce, New Zealand's North Island wildlife centre, where Manukura lives, reported that the bird's heart slowed suddenly during the surgery. But the little white bird pulled through and is recovering in isolation from other animals.

Kiwis, like other birds, swallow stones to help them digest their food. But Manukura, it seems, swallowed more than she could stomach.

Manukura, a North Island Brown Kiwi, is the 13th kiwi hatched in captivity at the centre this year.