The Miami Zoo “Kiwi Encounter” has been abandoned; video shows visitors petting a bird
Zoo Miami has apologized for mistreating a kiwi bird after a video emerged online of visitors petting the nocturnal bird in a bright environment and staff showing guests how it walks away from light.
In a statement on Tuesday, Zoo Miami said the Kiwi Encounter would no longer be offered to guests and, in hindsight, was “not well designed in terms of the national symbolism of this iconic animal and what he represents for the people of New Zealand”.
The kiwi is a symbol of the uniqueness of New Zealand wildlife and a taonga (treasure) for Maori, who have strong cultural, spiritual and historical associations with the kiwi, the New Zealand Ministry of Conservation said on its website.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species, the bird is vulnerable to extinction.
“It is particularly painful for all of us to think that anything that happened with Paora here at Zoo Miami would be offensive to one of New Zealand’s wonderful people,” the zoo said in the statement. “We are deeply sorry.”
Zoo Miami is the first facility in Florida to successfully hatch a kiwi in a partnership with the Smithsonian National Zoo.
Plans are underway to build a new habitat for Paora at the zoo
The zoo said Paora is normally kept out of public view and in a quiet area, which provides the male bird with shelter that allows it to stay in the dark during the day.
Plans are underway to build a special habitat for the bird, which will be developed “in such a way that we can teach our guests about the amazing kiwifruit without any direct contact from the public,” the zoo said.
“We are listening and will do our best to provide him with the respect and committed care he so deserves and sincerely regret any actions that may have indicated otherwise,” the zoo said.
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