The world’s first extremely rare white kiwi born in captivity has died after vets removed an unfertilised egg which led to her health deteriorating.

The North Island brown kiwi named Manukura passed away at 12.50pm on Sunday after she was born in captivity in 2011 at the Pukaha Mount Bruce Wildlife Centre in New Zealand.

The bird, that inspired children’s books and toys, had a rare genetic trait, leucism, which was carried by both parents and caused her plume of pure white feathers.

Manukura was taken to the specialist Wildbase Hospital at Massey University in Palmerston North after rangers noticed she was not eating and losing weight.

Vets operated and successfully removed an infertile egg that was ‘unable to pass naturally’ and further surgery removed her oviduct and most of her left ovary.

Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre announced the death of nine-year-old Manukura on Instagram, captioned: ‘It is with great sadness we announce the loss of our dear friend Manukura.

The centre continued: ‘The surgeries went well but were not enough to save the ailing kiwi whose health continued to deteriorate in the weeks following the operation.