Appalled, disgusted and offended New Zealanders are campaigning to bring a little kiwi back to Aotearoa after footage emerged of it being manhandled as part of a US zoo's interactive experience.
Zoo Miami apologised on Wednesday after facing online backlash over offering a kiwi encounter with the bird for paying customers.
The native New Zealand bird was the first ever kiwi chick to be hatched in Florida back in 2019, with the then-New Zealand Ambassador to the United States Rosemary Banks attending a blessing and naming ceremony for the chick.
Since then, Paora, named after iwi leader and environmentalist Paora Haitana, has resided at Zoo Miami where he has been used for "kiwi encounters" for NZ$40.
The nocturnal bird was recorded in broad daylight having his head pushed to the tabletop, his whiskers scratched and his need for darkness used as a gimmick.
The zoo has now apologised and stopped the experience but Kiwis are still rilled up.
Thousands of people have flocked to social media to express their disgust and multiple petitions have been launched to save Paora.
"I am absolutely appalled at the way the Kiwi is being handled. No birds should be handled like that, for many reasons. They are not toys. Bring him home," one person wrote.
"Making money off the backs of this iconic bird is going against anything a modern zoo should be doing! Disgusted really [Zoo Miami] should be boycotted," wrote another.
"Even kiwis don't touch kiwis. This offends me so much. Bring our kiwi home! Hands off America!" wrote a third.
Conservation specialists In New Zealand were also concerned for Paora's welfare, with one warning the bird could only live for six months longer if the treatment continued. The average lifespan for kiwi is between 25 and 50 years.
"They're vulnerable at that age, who knows what it could pick up that we don't know about. When you've got a young kiwi like that you've got to handle them with gloves, don't overhandle them - the stress will come up," Whangārei Native Bird Recovery Centre manager Robert Webb told Newshub.
Zoo Miami apologises
Zoo Miami has since apologised and assured the kiwi experience will stop immediately.
"First and foremost, on behalf of everyone at Zoo Miami, please accept our most profound and sincere apology for the stress initiated by a video on social media depicting the handling and housing of 'Paora', the kiwi bird that is presently under our care," the zoo told Newshub.
"The concerns expressed by have been taken very seriously and as a result, effective immediately, the Kiwi Encounter will no longer be offered."
"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 Māori.
"It is especially painful to all of us to think that anything that has occurred with Paora here at Zoo Miami would be offensive to any of the wonderful people of New Zealand. Again, we are deeply sorry."
Zoo Miami said Paora is normally kept out of public view in a quiet area with a special shelter that enables him to be in relative darkness during the day. It said plans are underway to build a special habitat for him that will continue to provide him with shelter while respecting and supporting his natural instincts, which will allow guests to be taught about kiwi without any direct contact from the public.
"We are happy to have watched him grow and thrive under our care and are committed to providing him with the best environment possible while respecting and honouring all that he represents," Zoo Miami said.
"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."
