Miami Zoo Issues Apology After New Zealand Expresses Outrage Over Kiwi Mistreatment

A Miami zoo in Florida has apologized and promised to end its "Kiwi Encounter" after New Zealand expressed outrage over the zoo's offering where guests could pet and feed the kiwi bird "Paora."

It all happened after Paora was featured in a viral video posted on social media getting petted at Zoo Miami. Kiwi is the national bird of New Zealand.

The video shows the flightless bird being handled by visitors and kept awake by artificial lighting, which prompted an online outcry that got the attention of New Zealand's Department of Conservation.

Experts noted that the touching and bright lights could place the kiwi under immense stress and shorten its lifespan.

According to the Associated Press, the Department of Conservation promised to reach out to the American Association of Zoos and Aquariums to express concerns about the kiwi's housing conditions.

Zoo Miami officials noted that the bird is usually kept in a much quieter area with a shelter, usually in relative darkness, and is often kept out of public view.

The zoo reportedly plans to build a new special habitat that will allow visitors to learn about kiwis without any direct contact.

Miami Zoo Apologizes Regarding Treatment of an Endangered Kiwi

The viral videos of how the bird was being handled at Zoo Miami were posted by wildlife photographer Holly Neill, who said it was "appalling" to see the endangered bird getting treated that way.

"It's being kept awake during the day despite being a nocturnal species," she wrote in her viral post. "When it runs to hide in a dark box, they open the lid."

Following the public outcry, Zoo Miami released a public apology and stopped offering its "Kiwi Encounter."

In a statement, Zoo Miami spokesperson Ron Magill said the zoo was sorry for the "stress initiated by a video on social media depicting the handling and housing of 'Paora'."

"Though Paora has thrived at Zoo Miami while receiving the best care available, the development of the Kiwi Encounter was, in hindsight, not well conceived with regard to the national symbolism of this iconic animal and what it represents to the people of New Zealand, especially the Maori," the statement noted.

According to BBC, Paora was hatched in Zoo Miami in 2019 as part of a captive breeding program that would ensure the survival of the species.

However, the bird looked visibly agitated in the viral video as guests patted him. Paora even tried to retreat into darkness several times.

Outrage Against the Miami Zoo in New Zealand

People in New Zealand launched a petition to "help save" Paora after the video surfaced on social media. Kiwi experts said the nocturnal bird would be "terrified" by the experience of getting handled during the day.

According to the New Zealand Herald, the petition has already reached over a thousand signatures. It asked that Paora be sent back to New Zealand or have its enclosure changed. The petition expressed concerns over their national bird being "treated like a lap dog."

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Call for NZ Experts to Help Care for Paora the Kiwi After US Zoo Sparks Fury - From Newshub