Captive kiwi have fewer gut microbes, may be more vulnerable to disease

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2021-07-13 09:37

New Zealand

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Rearing kiwi in captivity is critical for their survival as a species, but new research sheds light on what living out of the wild may do to the microbes that live in their gut. Researchers compared poo samples from more than 100 kiwi, finding captive birds' microbiomes were less diverse and were made up of different microbe types than their wild counterparts. Their research suggests an artificial diet, sterile hutches, and human interaction are key factors that can simplify kiwi microbiomes. Previous studies on other birds show this lack of microbe diversity can make them more vulnerable to disease, but more research is needed to figure out how it specifically affects kiwi health.