Elwyn Welch

Elwyn Owen Arnold Welch (13 January 1925 – 10 December 1961) was a New Zealand farmer, ornithologist, conservationist and Open Brethren missionary. He was born in Masterton, Wairarapa, New Zealand in 1925. An expert in raising endangered bird chicks, he is best known for his part in the captive breeding of newly re-discovered Takahē (Porphyrio hochstetteri) in the 1950s. His efforts live on as Pukaha Mount Bruce, New Zealands' National Wildlife Centre at Kelvin Grove near Mount Bruce. As an Open Brethren missionary, he served in Nigeria beginning in April 1961. He died in Nigeria at age 36 from bulbar poliomyelitis.