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Paora
Paora having a snack
SpeciesBrown kiwi[1]
SexMale
Born9 April 2019
Zoo Miami, Florida
Known forBeing mistreated
ResidenceZoo Miami
Named afterPaora Haitana

Paora (hatched 9 April 2019) is a brown kiwi that was the first to be born in Florida. He resides at Zoo Miami and gained widespread attention in May 2023 after social media videos showing him being mistreated went 'viral'. The videos showed Paora being stroked by the public as part of a kiwi encounter programme, near loud noises, away from plantlife, and under bright sunlight or lights, despite kiwi being a nocturnal bird. One video showed what Newshub described as the zoo appearing to use Paora's "need for darkness as a gimmick." The video showed Paora, in daylight, running to his box, and then the zookeeper opened the door to expose him to light again, saying "He'll stand there until it gets dark before he goes in the box and then you wait like five seconds and like magic he'll be ... so he wants to be in the dark and go back to sleep".

After the videos received widespread attention, Zoo Miami apologised and immediately stopped offering the kiwi encounters. The zoo said that Paora is normally kept in quietness and "relative darkness" during the day, out of the public view. After the incident, the zoo started building a new habitat for Paora, which has been authorised by the Department of Conservation and the charity Save the Kiwi.

Life

[edit]

Before Paora was hatched, his fertilised egg was transferred to Zoo Miami in March 2019 as part of a loan with the Smithsonian Institute, and with the support of the New Zealand government. He hatched on 9 April 2019, becoming the first kiwi to hatch in Florida.[2][3] His parents were given to the Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. Paora remains under the ownership of New Zealand and Māori. In November 2019 Paora was given a blessing and naming ceremony, where he was given the name Paora, after conservationist and iwi leader Paora Haitana. The ceremony was attended by New Zealand Ambassador to the United States Rosemary Banks. Shortly afterwards, Stuff described Paora as having a "celebrity status".[3]

Paora cannot travel to New Zealand due to biosecurity risks.[3]

Mistreatment

[edit]

In May 2023, social media footage of Paora being mistreated at the zoo went 'viral'.[4] These videos were showing public kiwi encounters that were advertised on the zoo's website and social media, for four times a week at 12.30 pm, at a cost of about US$25 (NZ$34–36).[5][6][7] One video showed visitors stroking Paora on his back and neck, with the caption "he literally was like a little puppy."[5] A zookeeper in one video said "He loves being pet, he's like a little dog and he loves his head being pet".[8] Zookeepers were also shown "pushing Paora's head to the tabletop [and] scratching his whiskers".[9] Videos also showed Paora being posed for selfies.[1]

The videos showed Paora in areas with loud noises,[10] no plant life,[8] and in daylight or under bright artificial lights, despite being a nocturnal bird.[5][10] Newshub wrote that zookeepeers in videos appeared to be "using his need for darkness as a gimmick".[9] In one video Paora, in daylight, ran to his box, and then the zookeeper opened the door to expose him to light again,[6][8] saying "He'll stand there until it gets dark before he goes in the box and then you wait like five seconds and like magic he'll be ... so he wants to be in the dark and go back to sleep".[8]

The Department of Conservation's Kiwi Best Practice Manual says that kiwi should not be "regularly taken out of their burrows just for the purposes of allowing people to see and touch them."[6] The manual says that kiwi already being held for another purpose such as rehabilitation, relocation, or health assessment, may be pat on the back by the public. But the public must not touch the kiwi's head, which is what was seen in the online videos.[11] Handling kiwi in New Zealand is "strict[ly]" regulated, with "strict certification" being required to handle kiwi. However, these regulations do not apply to Paora because he was hatched in the United States.[10]

Response

[edit]

To videos

[edit]

After the online videos got widespread attention, the zoo experienced backlash from the public.[12] This included complaints[13] and an email campaign directed at the zoo,[4] and the creation of several petitions to 'save Paora',[12] with one gathering almost 12 thousand signatures.[14]

Bird conservationist Robert Webb said that Paora had his eyes closed in the videos of him being patted, which was a sign of being "terrified".[4] Due to the stress caused to Paora, Webb said that he "wouldn't mind betting in six months he'll be dead".[9] Natalie Jessup, general manager of Endangered Species Foundation, said that "the footage was quite shocking".[9] Kiwi conservationist Simon Hall said that the public being able to touch Paora "doesn’t seem quite right".[15] The Department of Conservation discussed the issue with the American Association of Zoos and Aquariums.[10][7]

From Zoo Miami

[edit]

Zoo Miami apologised on 23 May 2023, saying that Paora is normally kept in quietness and "relative darkness" during the day, out of the public view. The kiwi encounters were immediately discontinued (within 24 hours of the video going 'viral'[4]) and the zoo said that they will build a new habitat for Paora "while respecting and supporting his natural instincts", to be used to educate the public about kiwi, but without visitors handling kiwi.[12][10][16]

Zoo Miami goodwill ambassador Ron Magill apologised, saying that "We have offended the nation of New Zealand".[15] When Magill saw the videos, he told zoo's director that "we have offended a nation".[17][11] He had an interview on the television show Breakfast to apologise,[18] as well as on AM.[19]

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, [12]

After the zoo's response

[edit]

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said that it was good that the zoo acknowledged that they had mistreated Paora,[15] and that the zoo was "taking it seriously".[20] He added that the public reaction "shows a lot of Kiwis take pride in our national bird when they’re overseas."[14] National leader Christopher Luxon said, "A fantastic back down from the zoo – to make the right decision".[21]

Not everyone was assured that the kiwi would be looked after well enough. Paora Haitana, the person who the kiwi is named after, said that he was "not sure if Miami Zoo has the expert or qualified people to be able to deliver that for Paora the kiwi", and said that experts from New Zealand should help the zoo.[21]

The New York Times wrote that "this incident has revealed the potential pitfalls of what might be called "kiwi diplomacy"', a kiwi version of China's panda diplomacy.[22]

After controversy

[edit]

In December 2023, Paora was described by Stuff as "thriving and enjoying a relaxed life in his secluded area away from the public", as the public kiwi encounters had stopped being offered and fluorescent lights had been eliminated from Paora's shelter.[23][24] It has glass that removes 80 per cent of light, and the lighting system will be able to be adjusted to red, which is invisible to kiwi. There will be a pool that is about 6 inches (15 cm) deep. The kiwi exhibit will replace a gift shop,[23] and construction was planned to start in January 2024.[25] Save the Kiwi helped with the build of the new shelter, which was also approved by the Department of Conservation.[24]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Miami Zoo's treatment of Paora the kiwi sparks petition". The New Zealand Herald. 23 May 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  2. ^ Hett, John (4 November 2019). "Florida's first native kiwi gets its name". WPLG. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "A kiwi chick named Paora makes history in Florida". Stuff. 10 November 2019. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d "'We have offended a nation': Miami zoo's treatment of kiwi bird enrages New Zealand". The Guardian. 24 May 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  5. ^ a b c "DOC to raise concerns with US zoo over treatment of kiwi". 1News. 23 May 2024. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  6. ^ a b c "Miami zoo apologizes after treatment of kiwi bird outrages New Zealand". NBC News. 25 May 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  7. ^ a b "Zoo Miami issues apology, stops kiwi encounters after concerns about treatment of New Zealand bird". ABC News. 24 May 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  8. ^ a b c d "Paora Haitana concerned at treatment of namesake kiwi at Miami Zoo". RNZ. 23 May 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  9. ^ a b c d "Conservation specialist slams viral kiwi video at Miami zoo as DoC raises concerns". Newshub. 23 May 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  10. ^ a b c d e "Icon abroad: Where and why our national bird is overseas". The New Zealand Herald. 24 May 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  11. ^ a b "Miami zoo apologizes after treatment of kiwi bird 'offended a nation'". Washington Post. 24 May 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  12. ^ a b c d "Furious New Zealanders campaign to bring kiwi home despite Zoo Miami apology over interactive encounter". Newshub. 24 May 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  13. ^ "Miami Zoo end kiwi encounters after uproar over welfare concerns for Paora". The New Zealand Herald. 24 May 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  14. ^ a b "Enraged New Zealanders call out 'mistreatment' of kiwi at Miami zoo". The Independent. 24 May 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  15. ^ a b c "Prime Minister weighs in on treatment of Paora the kiwi in Miami zoo". Stuff. 24 May 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  16. ^ "US zoo ends kiwi petting experience after outcry from New Zealanders". CNN. 24 May 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  17. ^ "A Miami zoo apologizes for kiwi petting encounter that angered New Zealanders". NPR. 25 May 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  18. ^ "'We were wrong': Zoo Miami to end controversial kiwi encounter". 1News. 24 May 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  19. ^ "Full AM interview: Miami zoo 'profoundly sorry' over viral kiwi video, encounter scrapped 'effective immediately'". Newshub. 25 May 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  20. ^ "Hipkins weighs in on Zoo Miami kiwi controversy". 1News. 24 May 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  21. ^ a b "Namesake of kiwi Paora appreciates Miami Zoo's apology, wants New Zealand experts to offer assistance in improving care". Newshub. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  22. ^ "They Cuddled a Kiwi. New Zealand Said, 'Stop That.'". The New York Times. 24 May 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  23. ^ a b "Where is Paora? The kiwi pulled from public life following US petting scandal". Stuff. 28 December 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  24. ^ a b "Paora the kiwi doing 'extraordinarily well' after Zoo Miami controversy". 1News. 1 August 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  25. ^ "Paora the kiwi – Florida zoo announces start date for new enclosure". 1News. 15 December 2023. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
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