The treatment of a kiwi at a United States zoo has sparked outrage in New Zealand, with a petition launched to save the native animal.
Zoo Miami is charging visitors about $US20 ($A30) for an up-close encounter with the nocturnal bird, called Paora.
Videos shared online by the zoo show Paora being handled, petted and snapped in selfies under bright lights.
New Zealand’s Department of Conservation said it thanked everyone who raised concerns about the bird.
“While offshore kiwi are managed separately, we’ll be discussing the situation with the American Association of Zoos & Aquariums to address some of the housing and handling concerns raised,” it said in a tweet.
A petition to “save this mistreated kiwi” had been launched online.
“He has been tamed and is subjected to bright fluorescent lighting four days a week, being handled by dozens of strangers, petted on his sensitive whiskers, laughed at, and shown off like a toy,” the petition reads.
Organisers hoped the petition would “spark an investigation” into the bird’s conditions and relocate him to somewhere more suitable.
“Kiwis are our precious Taonga (treasures), not America’s toys.”
Paora was sent to Zoo Miami as an egg in 2019 as part of a special loan agreement between the Smithsonian National Zoo and the New Zealand government.
The birds, which cannot fly, have loose, hair-like feathers, strong legs, and no tail, are the national icon of New Zealand and unofficial national emblem.