Wildlife Officials Save Baby Kiwi in 'Severely Cracked' Egg by Using Masking Tape

— -- Wildlife officials in New Zealand recently saved the life of a baby kiwi with the help of masking tape and old egg shell pieces.

The baby bird's egg was discovered "severely cracked and damaged" by a New Zealand Department of Conservation worker two weeks ago, according to Claire Travers, kiwi husbandry manager at Rainbow Springs Nature Park in Rotorua, New Zealand.

"A whole portion of the shell bigger than the size of a thumb was falling off," Travers told ABC News today. "There was also a small spillage of membrane. We had never seen damage to that extent before."

The young kiwi still had 10 to 12 days before hatching, and to save its life, staff had to act fast.

"It was late at night, and it became a matter of how we could save the egg with the little supplies we had," Travers said. "We ended up using pieces of old shells to cover up the cracks and masking tape to keep it together."

The simple fix worked. A few days after the patch-up, the baby kiwi "hatched happily and healthily," Travers said.

Staff fittingly named the bird "Fissure."

The baby kiwi will be looked after for three to five months before being set free into the wild, according to Travers.

All five species of kiwi are classified as threatened or at risk, according to New Zealand's Department of Conservation.

"Kiwi are a significant national icon, equally cherished by all cultures in New Zealand," the department states on its website. "Kiwi are a symbol for the uniqueness of New Zealand wildlife and the value of our natural heritage."