米動物園、キウイの触れ合い体験を謝罪

【ウェリント（ニュージーランド）ＡＦＰ＝時事】米フロリダ州の動物園「ズー・マイアミ」が、ニュージーランドの固有種で夜行性のキウイを明るい場所で入園者に触らせている動画が拡散し、ニュージーランド人から非難の声が上がった。これを受け同園は２３日、キウイ触れ合い体験は中止したと発表するとともに、謝罪した。（写真はキウイ。資料写真）
　ＮＺの国鳥でもあるキウイは夜行性で人前に現れることは少ない。
　問題の動画では、同園で生まれた「パオラ」という名のキウイが撫でられる様子が映っている。
　動画に対しＮＺから非難が出たこと受けズー・マイアミは「キウイ触れ合い体験を即時中止する」と発表。「パオラに関し、ＮＺの素晴らしい人々に不快な思いをさせてしまったかもしれないことを極めて心苦しく思います」とした。
　２４日にはＮＺのクリス・ヒプキンス首相も騒動に言及。同園は自分たちのしていたことが「キウイにとって適切でも、正しいことでも、公平でもなかったと認めた」とし、ＮＺ側から出ていた懸念の声を「真剣に捉えてくれたことに感謝する」と述べた。
　現在、野生のキウイは約７万羽いる。ＮＺの自然保護当局によると、国外で飼育されている個体は約６０羽に上る。
　キウイは先住民マオリの神話にも登場する。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2023/05/25-19:35）

New Zealand's prime minister on Wednesday joined a chorus of Kiwis complaining about the treatment of their national bird by a Miami zoo.
New Zealanders have been appalled by revelations that Zoo Miami allowed visitors to pet one of the shy nocturnal animals under harsh lights.
Zoo Miami issued an apology on Tuesday and said it had scrapped the interactive pet-a-kiwi experience, but not before videos of a kiwi named Paora being stroked and petted went viral.
The zoo (has) immediately taken steps to address the concerns that were raised, New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said.
They have acknowledged that what they were doing wasn't appropriate or wasn't right or wasn't fair to the kiwi, he added. I thank them for taking it seriously.
Millions of kiwis used to roam before Western settlers arrived on the shores of New Zealand, where only around 70,000 are now left in the wild.
The Zoo Miami bird is only one of around 60 kiwis currently housed outside of New Zealand, according to the Department of Conservation.
Kiwis are part of Maori mythology in New Zealand, where there was fierce condemnation of Paora's treatment.
It is obviously very clear your team (at Zoo Miami) is not equipped and has no clue how to care for this national treasure. Return Immediately, Paora, one person fumed on Twitter.
Sell kiwi toys if you want to fundraise! This is unethical and cruel, wrote another user.
In a statement, Zoo Miami said the concerns expressed have been taken very seriously.
Effective immediately, the Kiwi Encounter will no longer be offered, the zoo added.
It's especially painful to all of us to think that anything that has occurred with Paora... would be offensive to any of the wonderful people of New Zealand.
The zoo said it planned to build a special habitat for Paora so it could teach visitors about the amazing kiwi without direct contact.
The Miami zoo hatched the bird, which is named after Moari iwi (tribe) leader and environmentalist Paora Haitana.
Haitana told Radio New Zealand that it was a huge concern to hear of his namesake's treatment.
It's our signature, we're known as the kiwi, so it goes against everything the bird was given to them for, Haitana added.
New Zealand's Department of Conservation said it would contact Zoo Miami to share our expertise and high standards for the respectful care of kiwi.
A spokesperson added that they also planned to raise the matter with the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, of which Zoo Miami is a member.