Eco-sanctuary hails a miracle as endangered takahē birds hatch a chick

A pair of rare native New Zealand takahē birds who were believed to be infertile have stunned staff at an urban eco-sanctuary after hatching a “miracle” chick.

- Eva Corlett

The roughly seven-week old chick was discovered inside Zealandia, just 10 minutes from Wellington’s city centre, in November, but its arrival has been a closely guarded secret to ensure its safety.

The Guardian was given first access to photographs and footage of the chick, which sports a shock of fuzzy black down, comically large white legs and claws, and a black beak with a tiny white tip.

Flightless and mountain dwelling, Takahē are the world’s largest living rail - a family of ground-dwelling birds with short wings, large feet and long toes. They breed just once a year.

The birds once roamed the South Island, but were thought extinct at the turn of the 20th century until they were rediscovered in 1948. Since then they have been part of New Zealand’s longest running endangered species programme, which has slowly rebuilt their population to 500.