Kiwi is growing | June 2026
It has been wonderful watching Kiwi grow over the past month as she is increasingly resembling Debbie in both size and facial features, even if she does have a slightly darker fur colour! Whether curled up asleep, feeding quietly, or stretched out in the sun, Kiwi continues to stay closely bonded to her mother, still very much dependent on her presence as she learns her way through the canopy.
Baby Kiwi’s claw clinging on.
This month brought a noticeable change in Debbie’s usual stretch of beachside forest. On one of our visits, we found that sections of vegetation in her area had been cleared. At this stage, we are still unsure why this cutting took place, but it has altered parts of the habitat that Debbie and Kiwi frequently use. Despite the disturbance, Debbie is still spending most of her time in the almond trees near the beach.
The changes in the landscape have made us even more aware of how important this small corridor of trees is for them. These alterations highlight how vulnerable these narrow coastal habitats can be and we will keep a close eye on any further changes in habitat.
Looking ahead, we are preparing for the next important step in Kiwi’s development. She is approaching the stage where we would ideally fit her with a tracking collar, but she is often in small flimsy trees, or vine-covered trunks, which makes setting up a rope to climb very hard! When we get a closer look, we will need to make sure Kiwi is big enough to be collared.
Once collared, Kiwi will offer a rare opportunity to follow a young two-fingered sloth through the early stages of independence, tracking how she gradually moves away from her mother, begins to explore new areas, and eventually establishes her own space within this narrow coastal strip of forest that Debbie calls home.
Baby Kiwi.
