The inappropriate handling of the Kiwi generated outrage on social networks.
The Miami Zoo in Florida has issued a public apology for a video that went viral, showing a kiwi apparently stressed due to the lights and cameras when she meets the public, prompting the intervention of New Zealand Prime Minister Chris hipkins. The institution explained that “they accept their deepest and most sincere apology for the stress caused to ‘Paora’, the kiwi bird that is currently under our care.”
The Miami Zoo has come under fire for allowing people to pet the park’s first kiwi in broad daylight, despite being a nocturnal owl . This was part of the park’s ‘Kiwi Encounter’ program, where visitors can get up close and personal with the bird.
The kiwi bird is an unofficial national emblem of New Zealand and is considered a national icon. According to the New Zealand Ministry of Conservation, only about 70,000 wild specimens remain in existence. The country’s prime minister, Chris Hipkins, said the zoo’s apology shows they take the situation seriously.
In a conversation with New Zealand outlet 1 News, Ron Magill, Zoo Miami’s director of communication, said he was “embarrassed, on behalf of everyone here at the zoo.”
In the statement, the Florida institution, home to more than 2,500 animals representing nearly 400 different species, warned that despite misfortune, “Paora” normally “keeps out of public view in a quiet area.”
They also pointed out that the “Kiwi Encounter” program failed to take into account the national symbolism of the bird and what it represents to the people of New Zealand, especially the Maori.
The kiwi bird is a paleognathous bird that is made up of five species endemic to New Zealand. They are small flightless birds, about the size of a chicken.
Public visits to “Paora” have occurred four times a week since 2020, for about 10-15 minutes and he is committed to providing the bird with the best environment possible while respecting and honoring all that this extraordinary bird stands for.
