Rare white kiwi survives surgery

Kiwis lay eggs that can be up to one quarter of their body weight

The world's only known white kiwi has survived surgery to remove stones from her gizzard, reports a New Zealand Wildlife Centre.

Over a week ago, rangers noted that Manukura, the six-month-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.

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

Pukaha Mount Bruce, New Zealand's North Island wildlife centre, where Manukura lives, reported that the bird's heart slowed suddenly during the surgery giving the operating team "a bit of a scare".

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.