Kiwis are the national symbol of New Zealand. Kiwis are so much entwined with New Zealand identity that the name is synonymous to New Zealanders themselves.  There are five species in total all endemic to New Zealand and most are threatened since the introduction of mammalian predators. Adult kiwis have powerful legs that can combat anything that threatens them. Hence, the problem lies with young kiwis which are unfortunately defenseless to predators. Current conservation efforts involve breeding kiwis in captivity, raising the young chicks until they are old enough to defend themselves, and then finally releasing them into the wild. Although kiwis are the smallest ratites, they rival the ostrich’s egg in the fact that the kiwi lays the largest egg in relation to its body size then any other bird in the world.