In a dramatic scene worthy of Animal Rescue an injured kiwi has been freed from a possum trap north east of Taranaki.

Now dubbed Albion, the young female kiwi was discovered caught in a possum leg-trap by farmers near Whangamomona and the Forgotten World Highway on Sunday April 17.

East Taranaki Environment Trust chair Karen Schumacher said the farmers had trapped possums in the bush bordering their farm for more than 20 years and didn't know kiwi were present there.

East Taranaki Environment Trust Albion will undergo a two to three month rehabilitation at Massey University's Wildbase hospital in Palmerston North.

"They were devastated to have caught a kiwi by accident and called us immediately," she said.

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"Fortunately their dogs were avian aversion trained.

"It just goes to show kiwi are part of our community in Taranaki and can be found literally on our back door step."

Schumacher said the farmers who had found the kiwi would be putting in kiwi-friendly possum traps now they knew about their native neighbours.

Schumacher said the farmers kept Albion in a quiet spot until she was able to pick Albion up and take her to Energy City Vets in Inglewood where vet Aaron Chambers was able to administer some first aid.

"She was severely dehydrated and in a pretty bad way," Schumacher said.

She then got straight in the car and drove Albion straight from Inglewood three hours to Massey University's Wildbase Hospital in Palmerston North.

Vet at Wildbase Rebecca Webster said Albion had lost a bit of weight but was slowly putting it back on with some manual feeding by vets at Wildbase.

"Judging by the injuries she sustained she was probably trapped for about 24 to 48 hours," she said.

"We have to keep a pretty close eye on her to make sure any infection doesn't get into her bone.

"Those possum traps can be pretty gross and can pass on infection quite easily."

Wildbase hospital sees the majority of injured kiwi found in the North island and had an extensive rehabilitation programme planned for Albion.

"After six weeks her ankle should have healed, and from there she will go into rehab and then will be released back in Tahora in two to three months," she said.

"They'll even put her on a little kiwi treadmill to get her walking muscles working."