Kiwi encounter at Miami Zoo sparks outrage New Zealanders who launched an angry campaign for his return national bird in their country.

Videos that are shown to visitors caress a bird without wingswhich, although nocturnal, seems to wander awkwardly in daylight.

The video shows the caretaker petting Paora while visitors feed her worms. “He loves to cuddle, he’s like a little puppy and he loves it when you pet his head,” they say.

The treatment of this poor kiwi at the Miami Zoo is appalling. I’m so mad at this. He does not sleep during the day, despite the fact that he is nocturnal. When he runs to hide in the dark box, they open the lid. It’s such a shame to see the taonga being treated like that. pic.twitter.com/IDuq4gNN0c

— Holly (@HollyNeillNZ) May 22, 2023

Within hours, the video went viral on the Internet, and thousands of New Zealanders mobilized to protest by shooting at the US Zoo and launching a campaign to kill the bird, which “Four days a week, under the blinding light of day, dozens of strangers touch him, stroke his mustache, laugh at him and show him off like a toy.”
and even calls the intervention of their prime minister.

Theirsolitary, crested, flightless and ground birds they are so beloved by New Zealanders that they have become a national symbol. However, the zoo began charging visitors $25 for a “kiwi encounter” where visitors came into direct contact with the bird.

After a flurry of angry complaints, zoo spokesman Ron Magill admitted that “here we made a huge mistake. I immediately went to the manager and told him that we insulted the nation.”

Less than 24 hours later, the zoo released a lengthy apology statement announcing that Paora had returned to darkness and was no longer allowed to “meet” visitors.

On behalf of everyone at the Miami Zoo, please accept our most sincere apologies for the stress caused by the video showing the handling/containment of “Paora”, the kiwi. From now on, Kiwi Encounter will no longer be offered.

Full statement: https://t.co/1PnzLs2jIX pic.twitter.com/887nvjqNQC

— Zoo Miami (@zoomiami) May 23, 2023

Americans were amazed immediacy and intensity of anger New Zealanders for kiwi. However, their reaction is not inexplicable, as their national temperament has become proverbial, due to which they are devoted to the protection of endemic species and nature in general.

The country’s early separation from other land masses means that New Zealand has no endemic mammals, but a huge variety of birds. Many of them are now critically endangered and there are now national campaigns to control and save their predators. Kiwi holds a special place in the hearts of New Zealanders and is considered taonga. (taonga, cultural property) Maori.

Paora, the bird of Miami, was bred in the USA as part of a breeding program.

Source: Guardian