Wildbase vet Megan Jolly talks about a kiwi brought to Wildbase from Taranaki with injuries received from a possum trap.

A "feisty" brown kiwi has been released back into the Taranaki bush after being treated at a national wildlife hospital in Palmerston North.

The adult female kiwi, dubbed Albion, has been under the care of the Wildbase Hospital veterinary team for the past month after she was found caught in a possum trap.

Based at Massey University's Palmerston North campus, Wildbase is the country's only dedicated wildlife hospital.

Warwick Smith/Fairfax NZ Wildbase Hospital vet Megan Jolly prepares Albion the kiwi to be taken back to Taranaki now the bird has recovered from getting caught in a possum trap.

East Taranaki Environment Trust chairwoman Karen Schumacher and her husband Bob Schumacher made the trip to Palmerston North on Saturday to collect Albion.

Schumacher said Albion would be released into the Purangi Kiwi Project Area, east of New Plymouth.

She said the trust had set up a reporting system for when an injured kiwi is found, with Taranaki vets acting as first responders before any kiwi there is sent on to Wildbase.

﻿On arrival at Wildbase, X-rays showed bones in Albion's right leg had been cracked by the trap. The leg was splinted to allow the fracture to heal.



Wildbase vet Megan Jolly said although Albion was pretty comfortable with human contact, there were always challenges when treating a wild animal.

"She didn't want to eat our kiwi-mix, but she was more than happy to put [her splint] in the water."

Ablion's splint had to be changed more often than usual because she kept putting it in her water bowl. Jolly said they tried moving it, or putting it up higher but Albion just kept finding more creative ways to stick her leg in the bowl.

Wildbase director Professor Brett Gartrell said the splint was removed after three weeks, and Albion had made a strong recovery.

"Albion has got stronger and stroppier every day she has been in hospital," he said.

"She is using her leg well, especially when it comes to ninja-kicking the staff."

Bob Schumacher said Albion had handled the drive to Palmerston North well, and would be pretty comfortable in her carry box lined with fern fronds.

"Kiwis travel reasonably well, although you do get the odd one that gets a bit carsick."

Albion will be fitted with a transmitter for the next three to four months to monitor her health and activity after being released.