Elwyn Owen Arnold Welch (1925–1961) was a New Zealand farmer, ornithologist, conservationist and 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.