On 31 December 1984, Orana Park (as it was known back then) opened the South Island’s first kiwi house.
Orana’s first kiwi was a Stewart Island Brown Kiwi named ‘Friday’. His right foot had been damaged in an opossum trap.
In those days, Orana and other wildlife facilities could only care for ‘second chance’ kiwis like Friday who would have not survived if left in the wild and had the need for rehabilitation.
Orana had the birth of its first kiwi chick in 1989.
*image courtesy of Orana Wildlife Trust – www.oranawildlifepark.co.nz
