Brown kiwi no pee-wee on the treadmill

ROBERT KITCHIN/The Manawatu Standard

ON THE TREADMELL: Piwi the kiwi has been working hard to regain his fitness

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An injured kiwi recovering from two broken legs has been working out on a treadmill to help him return to the wild.

The brown kiwi, named Piwi because of his small size, was admitted to Massey University's Wildlife Ward in December after being found near Mt Ruapehu with a broken leg that had healed badly.

Vet Lisa Argilla said the kiwi had an operation to fix the leg and was sent to the Rainbow Springs Kiwi Wildlife Park near Rotorua in April for further rehabilitation. He broke his other leg the first night he was there.

"He was brought straight back here as it was quite a bad break. He needed a blood transfusion and more surgery."

Since then, Piwi has been put through intensive rehabilitation. His physiotherapy has included regular massages and sessions on a treadmill.

"The treadmill is good for his muscle development. He has been getting a 10-minute workout every couple of days, which has helped him regain strength in his legs. He was a bit reticent at first on the treadmill but, after a while, he got used to it and it's really helped."

Staff from Rainbow Springs picked Piwi up yesterday to take him back for further rehabilitation before he is re-released into the wild.

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