Zoo Miami in Florida has apologised for offering an encounter with a kiwi, New Zealand’s national bird, with a spokesperson admitting the zoo has “offended a nation”.
Videos of Pāora, the zoo’s only kiwi bird, being handled under bright lights sparked outrage on social media in New Zealand, as the animals are known for being reclusive and nocturnal.
The footage went viral within hours, with nearly 12,000 people signing an online petition at the time of writing.
Social media outrage in New Zealand
On Wednesday (24 May), Zoo Miami’s communications director Ron Magill told Radio New Zealand: “I immediately went to the zoo director, and I said, we have offended a nation.”
New Zealand prime minister Chris Hipkins said the incident “shows a lot of Kiwis take pride in our national bird when they’re overseas”.
“The New Zealanders who witnessed what was happening there caught it pretty quickly,” he added. He said the zoo had “made public statements of regret on what’s happened, and I acknowledge that and thank them for taking it seriously”.
New Zealand’s department of conservation said in a statement on Tuesday (23 May): “We would like to thank everyone who has raised concerns about Pāora, the kiwi at Miami zoo.”
It said the department would be “discussing the situation with the American Association of Zoos & Aquariums to address some of the housing and handling concerns raised”.
In a statement posted on Tuesday, Zoo Miami offered “our most profound and sincere apology”.
It added: “The concerns expressed by have been taken very seriously and as a result, effective immediately, the ‘kiwi encounter’ will no longer be offered.”
The zoo said the experience was “not well conceived”, and said Pāora “is normally kept out of public view in a quiet area”, but that plans are underway “to build a special habitat for him”.
“It will be developed in such a way that we can teach our guests about the amazing kiwi without any direct contact from the public,” Zoo Miami added.
“Thank you for expressing your concern, love and passion for this remarkable bird. We are listening and will do better to provide it with the respect and committed care that it so richly deserves and sincerely regret any actions that may have indicated otherwise.”
Images: Zoo Miami
