Disabled Servicemen May Make Artificial Leg For Injured Kiwi
(P.A.) AUCKLAND, Aug. 13. The kiwi from Opotiki which recently had its right foot amputated and which is to become a member of the Auckland Zoo. has been elevated to the ranks of war wounded if an offer received at the Town Hall from the Servicemen’s Re-establishment League is put into effect. The bird might shortly wear an artificial limb made by the league. The offer is contained in a letter received by the deputy-Mayor. Mr. J. L. Coakley, who is also chairman of the City Council’s parks committee. Help “To Tut Bird Back on Feet’’ Mr. Bennett, manager of the artificial limb department of the Auckland branch of the league, made the offer of assistance for the bird. He expressed interest in the fact that the Department of Internal Affairs had authorised the zoo to keep fhe kiwi and he likened it to Second World War soldiers who had borrowed the name of the species. "There has been a large number of Kiwis fitted with artificial limbs, having suffered war injuries, and it would give me great pleasure to fit a real kiwi.” said Mr. Bennett. He hoped to be able to help the zno authorities to "nut the. unfortunate bird back on its feet..” Now Has Cork Leg The deputy-Mayor has replied that the kiwi, which will not arrive in Auckland for several days, now has cork on the stump of the leg. When the bird arrives at the zoo the league’s expert assistance, he said, might be very useful. No doubt the league has fitted limbs to Kiwis in a far worse condition than the bird from Opotiki. The bird which is to come to the zoo had its foot amputated after it stumbled into an opossum trap in the Opotiki district. It has since been cared for bv Mr. J. D. Clark, chemist, of Oootiki. who offered it to the zoo. Authority to accept it was received this week from the Department of Internal Affairs, but. the conditions under which it may be kept have not yet been received.
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Bibliographic details
Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23023, 13 August 1949, Page 4
Word Count
352Disabled Servicemen May Make Artificial Leg For Injured Kiwi Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23023, 13 August 1949, Page 4
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